Alekos Theologis, MD
Associate Professor
Orthopaedic Surgery
School of Medicine

Providing passionate and comprehensive patient care, Dr. Theologis actively engages in the development of new technologies, clinical and biomechanical research, and the latest advancements in perioperative pain management and surgical reconstruction.

Dr. Theologis’ research interests include: perioperative management and risk assessment, revision surgery and the management of complications after spine surgery, health policy, global health, and educating the next generation of medical students and residents.

Dr. Theologis graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and Chemistry from Stanford University. He attended medical school at the University of California - San Francisco, where he also completed his residency in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, serving as chief resident in his final year.

During this time, Dr. Theologis received local and national awards for research including: the J. Harold LaBriola, M.D. Resident Award for the most outstanding resident paper in orthopaedic research; the Northern California Orthopaedic Society Resident Research Award for best clinical paper; the 2014 Most Outstanding Paper in The Spine Journal; and the UCSF CTSI Outstanding Resident Research Award. Dr. Theologis also completed a Health Volunteers Overseas Orthopaedics Traveling Fellowship in Ghana during which he trained surgeons and operated on patients with severe spinal deformities.

Following his residency at UCSF, Dr. Theologis completed one of the most prestigious adult and pediatric clinical fellowships in spine surgery at Washington University in St. Louis during which he trained broadly and comprehensively under the tutelage of neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons.

Dr. Theologis’ clinics will be at four locations: the UCSF Spine Center on the Parnassus Campus, the UCSF Orthopedic Institute and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, both state-of- the-art facilities located at the UCSF Mission Bay campus in San Francisco, and the UCSF Berkeley Outpatient Clinic in Berkeley.

For more information or to make an appointment: 415-353-2739.

• Correction: Costs of revision operations for distal junctional kyphosis following thoracic posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2024 Theologis AA, Wu HH, Oeding JF, Diab M
• Radiation Therapy for Primary and Metastatic Spine Tumors.
  The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2024 Boreta L, Chhabra A, Theologis AA
• Biomechanical analysis of a trans-discal, multi-level stabilization screw (MLSS) at the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) of long posterior thoracolumbar instrumentations.
  Spine deformity 2024 Collins AP, Shah AA, Shekouhi N, Goel VK, Theologis AA
• Timelines for Return to Different Sports Types After Eight Cervical Spine Fractures in Recreational and Elite Athletes: A Survey of the Association for Collaborative Spine Research.
  Clinical spine surgery 2024 Hung NJ, McClellan RT, Hsu W, Hu SS, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Lumbar fusion surgery in the era of an aging society: analysis of a nationwide population cohort with minimum 8-year follow-up.
  The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society 2024 Kwon WK, Theologis AA, Kim JH, Moon HJ
• Comparative Analysis of Three Posterior-Only Surgical Techniques for Isthmic L5-S1 Spondylolisthesis.
  The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2024 Klawson B, Buchowski JM, Punyarat P, Singleton Q, Feger M, Theologis AA
• Costs of revision operations for distal junctional kyphosis following thoracic posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2024 Theologis AA, Wu HH, Oeding JF, Diab M
• Resection of a Recurrent Lumbar Chordoma With Intradural Extension and Complex Dural Repair: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.
  Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) 2024 Dada A, Tawil ME, Dietz N, Ambati VS, Chryssikos T, Theologis AA, Mummaneni PV
• Coronal Alignment in Adult Spine Surgery.
  The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2024 Sharfman ZT, Clark AJ, Gupta MC, Theologis AA
• Trans-Sternal Multilevel Corpectomy for Cervicothoracic Renal Cell Metastasis: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.
  Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) 2024 Tawil ME, Chryssikos T, Sorour O, Ambati VS, Jamieson A, Theologis AA, Kratz J, Mummaneni PV
• Correction: Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: review of current classifications and proposal of a novel classification system.
  European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2024 Rangwalla K, Filley A, El Naga A, Gendelberg D, Baldwin A, Maziad A, Arora A, Wague A, O'Donnell J, Chryssikos T, Kasir R, Shah J, Theologis A, Tan L, Mummaneni P, Alamin T, Berven SH
• Odontoid fractures above C2 to pelvis posterior instrumented fusions: a single center's 11-year experience.
  Spine deformity 2023 Lim P, Clark AJ, Deviren V, Berven SH, Burch S, Ames CP, Theologis AA
• Abdominal lymphocele following multi-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) managed with a laparoscopic peritoneal window: case report and review of the literature.
  European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2023 Collins AP, Freise CE, Hiramoto J, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Anterior lumbar interbody fusion versus transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for correction of lumbosacral fractional curves in adult (thoraco)lumbar scoliosis: A systematic review.
  North American Spine Society journal 2023 Cummins DD, Clark AJ, Gupta MC, Theologis AA
• Biomechanical evaluation of multi-rod constructs to stabilize an S1 pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO): a finite element analysis.
  Spine deformity 2023 Shekouhi N, Tripathi S, Goel VK, Theologis AA
• Bilateral dual iliac screw pelvic fixation for adult spinal deformity: a case report of a superior gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to aberrant iliac screw trajectory.
  Spine deformity 2023 Khela M, Kasir R, Lokken RP, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Understanding the etiopathogenesis of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation: From clinical evidence to basic scientific research.
  JOR spine 2023 Zhou M, Theologis AA, O'Connell GD
• Proximal Junctional Fracture and Kyphosis: Correction With Posterior Vertebral Column Resection and the "Rail Technique": 2-Dimensional Operative Video.
  Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) 2023 Collins AP, Clark AJ, Ames CP, Theologis AA
• Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: review of current classifications and proposal of a novel classification system.
  European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2023 Rangwalla K, Filley A, El Naga A, Gendelberg D, Baldwin A, Maziad A, Arora A, Wague A, O'Donnell J, Chryssikos T, Kasir R, Shah J, Theologis A, Tan L, Mummaneni P, Alamin T, Berven SH
• Lumbar Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy (PSO): A Novel Surgical Technique for Correction of Sagittal and Coronal Imbalance Using Laterally Based Satellite Rods.
  Clinical spine surgery 2023 Scheer JK, Clark AJ, Mitsunaga K, Tan LA, Theologis AA
• Activity and sports resumption after long segment fusions to the pelvis for adult spinal deformity: survey results of AO Spine members.
  Spine deformity 2023 Theologis AA, Cummins DD, Kato S, Lewis S, Shaffrey C, Lenke L, Berven SH, AO Spine Knowledge Forum Deformity
• Proximal Junctional Kyphosis and Failure: Strategies for Prevention.
  Neurosurgery clinics of North America 2023 Arora A, Sharfman ZT, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Navigated Hybrid Open/Muscle-sparing Approach to 2-level Cement Augmentation of the UIV and UIV+1 for Prevention of Proximal Junctional Failure: Supplemental Manuscript to Operative Video.
  Clinical spine surgery 2023 Goodarzi A, Arora A, Burch S, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Duration of neurological deficit and outcomes in the surgical treatment of spinal coccidioidomycosis.
  Journal of neurosurgery. Spine 2023 Semonche A, Scheer JK, Shah VN, Fung M, Tan LA, Chou D, Mummaneni PV, Berven SH, Ames CP, Deviren V, Theologis AA, Clark AJ
• Mechanical complications and patient-reported outcome measures associated with high pelvic incidence and persistent pelvic retroversion: the Roussouly "false type 2" profile.
  Journal of neurosurgery. Spine 2023 Lertudomphonwanit T, Gupta MC, Theologis AA, Jauregui JJ, Lenke LG, Bridwell KH, Wondra JP, Kelly MP
• Computer-assisted Navigation in Lumbar Spine Instrumented Fusions: Comparison of In-hospital and 30-Day Postoperative Complications With Nonnavigated Fusions in a National Database.
  The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2023 Sing D, Cummins DD, Burch S, Theologis AA
• Influence of Preoperative T1-Slope and Cervical Sagittal Vertical Axis on Postoperative Cervical Sagittal Alignment Following Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty.
  International journal of spine surgery 2023 Bhat N, Burch S, Tay B, Berven SH, Deviren V, Theologis AA
• Preoperative medical assessment for adult spinal deformity surgery: a state-of-the-art review.
  Spine deformity 2023 Arora A, Cummins DD, Wague A, Mendelis J, Samtani R, McNeill I, Theologis AA, Mummaneni PV, Berven S
• Risk factors for extended length of stay and non-home discharge in adults treated with multi-level fusion for lumbar degenerative pathology and deformity.
  Spine deformity 2022 Arora A, Wague A, Srinivas R, Callahan M, Peterson TA, Theologis AA, Berven S
• Does number of rods matter? 4-, 5-, and 6-rods across a lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy: a finite element analysis.
  Spine deformity 2022 Shekouhi N, Vosoughi AS, Goel VK, Theologis AA
• Predictive models to assess risk of extended length of stay in adults with spinal deformity and lumbar degenerative pathology: development and internal validation.
  The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society 2022 Arora A, Demb J, Cummins DD, Callahan M, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Thoracic posterior spinal instrumented fusion vs. thoracic anterior spinal tethering for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a minimum of 2-year follow-up: a cost comparison of index and revision operations.
  Spine deformity 2022 Theologis AA, Wu HH, Diab M
• Development and internal validation of predictive models to assess risk of post-acute care facility discharge in adults undergoing multi-level instrumented fusions for lumbar degenerative pathology and spinal deformity.
  Spine deformity 2022 Arora A, Demb J, Cummins DD, Deviren V, Clark AJ, Ames CP, Theologis AA
• Radiographic comparison of L5-S1 lateral anterior lumbar interbody fusion cage subsidence and displacement by fixation strategy: anterior plate versus integrated screws.
  Journal of neurosurgery. Spine 2022 Theologis AA, Patel S, Burch S
• Biomechanical comparison of multi-rod constructs by satellite rod configurations (in-line vs. lateral) and screw types (monoaxial vs. polyaxial) spanning a lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO): is there an optimal configuration?
  European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2022 Shekouhi N, Vosoughi AS, Zavatsky JM, Goel VK, Theologis AA
• Proximal Junctional Spondylodiscitis Following Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: Case Series and Review of the Literature.
  International journal of spine surgery 2022 Mendelis JR, Hung NJ, Deviren V, Ames CP, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Lidocaine Infusion for the Management of Postoperative Pain and Delirium (LIMPP): protocol for a randomised control trial.
  BMJ open 2022 Buren MA, Theologis A, Zuraek A, Behrends M, Clark AJ, Leung JM
• Compensatory biomechanics and spinal loading during dynamic maneuvers in patients with chronic low back pain.
  European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2022 Nyayapati P, Booker J, Wu PI, Theologis A, Dziesinski L, O'Neill C, Zheng P, Lotz JC, Matthew RP, Bailey JF
• Survival of Patients With Primary Osseous Malignancies of the Mobile Spine Is Associated With Access to "Standard Treatment" Protocols.
  The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2022 Stroud SG, Geiger EJ, Lichtensztajn DY, Goldsby RE, Cheng I, Wustrack R, Theologis AA
• Economic Impact of Revision Operations for Adjacent Segment Disease of the Subaxial Cervical Spine.
  Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews 2022 Bonano J, Cummins DD, Burch S, Berven SH, Deviren V, Ames CP, Tay B, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• 5-Year Revision Rates After Elective Multilevel Lumbar/Thoracolumbar Instrumented Fusions in Older Patients: An Analysis of State Databases.
  The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2022 Cummins DD, Callahan M, Scheffler A, Theologis AA
• Lower Neurological Risk with Anterior Operations Compared to Posterior Operations for Thoracic Disc Herniations: Analysis of 697 Patients.
  Spine 2022 Cummins D, Callahan M, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Rates and risk factors associated with 30- and 90-day readmissions and reoperations after spinal fusions for adult lumbar degenerative pathology and spinal deformity.
  Spine deformity 2021 Taliaferro K, Rao A, Theologis AA, Cummins D, Callahan M, Berven SH
• RAPT score and preoperative factors to predict discharge location following adult spinal deformity surgery.
  Spine deformity 2021 Cummins D, Georgiou S, Burch S, Tay B, Berven SH, Ames CP, Deviren V, Clark AJ, Theologis AA
• Spine Surgeons Social Dilemma: Benefits and Risks of Social Media for Spine Surgery Practice in the 21st Century.
  Global spine journal 2021 Samtani RG, Webb A, Burleson J, Berven S, Theologis A, Abotsi E, Burch S, Deviren V, Haddas R
• Ureteral injury following anterior thoracolumbar spinal instrumented fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a case report with CT angiography analysis of surgically relevant anatomy.
  Spine deformity 2021 Hung NJ, Theologis AA, Courtier JL, Harmon D, Diab M
• The role of the fractional lumbosacral curve in persistent coronal malalignment following adult thoracolumbar deformity surgery: a radiographic analysis.
  Spine deformity 2021 Theologis AA, Lertudomphonwanit T, Lenke LG, Bridwell KH, Gupta MC
• Reoperation and Mortality Rates Following Elective 1 to 2 Level Lumbar Fusion: A Large State Database Analysis.
  Global spine journal 2021 Cummins D, Hindoyan K, Wu HH, Theologis AA, Callahan M, Tay B, Berven S
• Costs and utility of post-discharge acute inpatient rehabilitation following adult spinal deformity surgery.
  Spine deformity 2021 Theologis AA, Lau D, Dalle-Ore C, Tsu A, Deviren V, Ames CP
• Thoracolumbar Junction Orientation: A Novel Guide for Sagittal Correction and Proximal Junctional Kyphosis Prediction in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients.
  Neurosurgery 2020 Moon HJ, Bridwell KH, Theologis AA, Kelly MP, Lertudomphonwanit T, Lenke LG, Gupta MC
• The "Rail Technique" for Correction of Cervicothoracic Kyphosis: Case Report and Surgical Technique Description.
  Neurospine 2020 Theologis AA, Gupta MC
• Relationship of the character of rod fractures on outcomes following long thoracolumbar fusion to the sacrum for adult spinal deformity.
  The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society 2020 Lertudomphonwanit T, Bridwell KH, Kelly MP, Punyarat P, Theologis A, Sides BA, Gupta MC
• Intervertebral disc herniation effects on multifidus muscle composition and resident stem cell populations.
  JOR spine 2020 Agha O, Mueller-Immergluck A, Liu M, Zhang H, Theologis AA, Clark A, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT, Bailey JF
• Readmission in elective spine surgery: Will short stays be beneficial to patients.
  Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia 2020 Brown AE, Saleh H, Naessig S, Pierce KE, Ahmad W, Bortz CA, Alas H, Chern I, Vasquez-Montes D, Ihejirika RC, Segreto FA, Haskel J, Kaplan DJ, Diebo BG, Gerling MC, Paulino CB, Theologis A, Lafage V, …
• Improvements in Neck Pain and Disability Following C1-C2 Posterior Cervical Instrumentation and Fusion for Atlanto-Axial Osteoarthritis.
  World neurosurgery 2020 Adogwa O, Buchowski JM, Sielatycki JA, Shlykov MA, Theologis AA, Lin J, CreveCoeur T, Peters C, Riew KD
• Normative Data of Pulmonary Function Tests and Radiographic Measures of Chest Development in Children Without Spinal Deformity: Is a T1-T12 Height of 22 cm Adequate?
  Spine deformity 2019 Theologis AA, Smith J, Kerstein M, Gregory JR, Luhmann SJ
• Thoracolumbar junction orientation: its impact on thoracic kyphosis and sagittal alignment in both asymptomatic volunteers and symptomatic patients.
  European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 2019 Moon HJ, Bridwell KH, Theologis AA, Kelly MP, Lertudomphonwanit T, Kim HJ, Lenke LG, Gupta MC
• Cervical and Cervicothoracic Sagittal Alignment According to Roussouly Thoracolumbar Subtypes.
  Spine 2019 Theologis AA, Iyer S, Lenke LG, Sides BA, Kim HJ, Kelly MP
• Cellular biology of fracture healing.
  Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2018 Bahney CS, Zondervan RL, Allison P, Theologis A, Ashley JW, Ahn J, Miclau T, Marcucio RS, Hankenson KD
• Placement of iliosacral screws using 3D image-guided (O-Arm) technology and Stealth Navigation: comparison with traditional fluoroscopy.
  The bone & joint journal 2016 Theologis AA, Burch S, Pekmezci M
• When do anterior external or internal fixators provide additional stability in an unstable (Tile C) pelvic fracture? A biomechanical study.
  European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society 2014 Mcdonald E, Theologis AA, Horst P, Kandemir U, Pekmezci M
• Luteinizing hormone-dependent activation of the epidermal growth factor network is essential for ovulation.
  Molecular and cellular biology 2006 Hsieh M, Lee D, Panigone S, Horner K, Chen R, Theologis A, Lee DC, Threadgill DW, Conti M
• Protein-protein interactions among the Aux/IAA proteins.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1997 Kim J, Harter K, Theologis A