Mohammad Diab, MD
Professor
Orthopaedic Surgery
School of Medicine

Dr. Diab sees children and adolescents with the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions, from fractures to infections to bone deformity to congenital anomalies to neuromuscular disorders to skeletal dysplasias. He has a special interest in the axial skeleton, in particular spine and hip conditions, including scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, hip dysplasia and femoro-acetabular impingement. He also is the go-to surgeon for residual childhood deformities in young adults, such as previously undiagnosed hip dysplasia. He began the periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and surgical hip dislocation program at Northern California Kaiser. Procedures he routinely performs include fusion, instrumentation, reduction, osteotomy and stabilization. Dr. Diab is one of the innovators in spine tethering, having performed his first procedure in 2007 and trained many surgeons in the technique.

Dr. Diab is world-renowned in the field of Pediatric Orthoaedic Surgery. He has written two books, Lexicon of Orthopædic Surgery (Taylor & Francis, 1999) and Practice of Pædiatric Orthopædics (Wolters Kluwer-Lippincott, 2015), one of the major international textbooks in the field. He has presented his research at national and international meetings, has taught in numerous courses for orthopædic surgeons, and regularly mentors resident, fellows and medical students.

Diab earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University. He completed training in Orthoaedic Surgery at the University of Washington and in Pediatric Orthoaedic Surgery at Harvard University. He began as an Assistant Professor of Orthoaedic Surgery at the University of Washington, from where he came to UCSF in 2002 as Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Diab sees and treats patients at UCSF Children’s Hospitals San Francisco (Mission Bay) and Oakland, as well as in Marin at UCSF's Greenbrae clinic.

• Radiographic and perioperative outcomes following anterior thoracic vertebral body tethering and posterior lumbar spine tethering: a pilot series.
  Spine deformity 2023 Siu JW, Wu HH, Saggi S, Allahabadi S, Katyal T, Diab M
• More than just medication: exploring the potential of a perioperative psychosocial intervention following major pediatric orthopaedic surgery: coping skills intervention in children
  JPOSNA 2023 Gornitzky A, o’Donnell JM, Diab M.
• Anterior vertebral body tethering for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis associated with less early post-operative pain and shorter recovery compared with fusion.
  Spine deformity 2023 O'Donnell JM, Gornitzky AL, Wu HH, Furie KS, Diab M
• Perioperative Outcomes of Open Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering and Instrumented Posterior Spinal Fusion for Skeletally Immature Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis.
  Journal of pediatric orthopedics 2022 Siu JW, Wu HH, Saggi S, Allahabadi S, Katyal T, Diab M
• 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
• Proximal ulna adamantinoma
  In preparation. 2022 Demetri L, Kim A, Wustrack RL, Diab M, Lee N.
• Return to activity after thoracic anterior lumbar posterior tethering versus posterior spinal fusion
  . Spine J. 2022 Wu H-H, Siu JW, Allahabadi S, Flores M, Oeding J, Brown K, o’Donnell JM, Baldwin AL, Diab M.
• Concurrent and overlapping surgery: perspectives from surgeons on spinal posterior instrumented fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Journal of children's orthopaedics 2021 Allahabadi S, Wu HH, Allahabadi S, Woolridge T, Kohn MA, Diab M
• Institution-wide shape analysis of 3D spinal curvature and global alignment parameters.
  Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2021 Iriondo C, Mehany S, Shah R, Bharadwaj U, Bahroos E, Chin C, Diab M, Pedoia V, Majumdar S
• Surgeon Suicide Remains a Critical Issue for the Orthopaedic Profession.
  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2021 Zaid M, Diab M
• 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
• Physician Ratings: Determinants, Accuracy, and Impact.
  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2021 Khanna K, Diab M
• Combined thoracic anterior and lumbar posterior tethering vs anterior vertebral body tethering: Outcomes in skeletally immature idiopathic scoliosis
  Spine J. 2021 Wu H-H, Saggi S, Katyal T, Allahabadi S, Siu J, Diab M.
• Neurophysiologic Detection of Spinal Cord Ischemia During Anterior Vertebral Tethering.
  Spine 2020 Clark JP, Diab M
• Bilateral optic disc pits in a pediatric patient with Cobb syndrome.
  American journal of ophthalmology case reports 2020 Mekonnen B, Richardson Q, Bhisitkul JM, Diab M, Rasool N
• Preoperative CT Angiography Informs Instrumentation in Anterior Spine Surgery for Idiopathic Scoliosis.
  Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews 2020 Theologis AA, Ramirez J, Diab M
• Patient Satisfaction: Inception, Impact, and Correlation with Outcomes.
  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2019 Khanna K, Diab M
• Idiopathic stroke after syndromic and neuromuscular scoliosis surgery: a case report and literature review.
  AME case reports 2019 Nguyen T, Khanna K, Gornitzky AL, Diab M
• Schimke immunoosseous dysplasia and management considerations for vascular risks.
  American journal of medical genetics. Part A 2019 Beleford DT, Diab M, Qubty WF, Malloy MJ, Long RK, Shieh JT
• Concurrent and Overlapping Surgery: Perspectives From Parents of Adolescents Undergoing Spinal Posterior Instrumented Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis.
  Spine 2019 Bryant J, Markes A, Woolridge T, Cerruti D, Dzeng E, Koenig B, Diab M
• . Ethnic variation in satisfaction and appearance concerns in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation
  Spine Deform 2018 Theologis AA, Crawford MD, Diab M.
• Ethnic Variation in Satisfaction and Appearance Concerns in Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion With Instrumentation.
  Spine deformity 2017 Theologis AA, Crawford M, Diab M, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• National Trends in the Surgical Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Analysis of a National Estimate of 60,108 Children From the National Inpatient Sample Over a 13-Year Time Period in the United States.
  Spine deformity 2017 Theologis AA, Sing DC, Chekeni F, Diab M
• Rates and risk factors associated with unplanned hospital readmission after fusion for pediatric spinal deformity.
  The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society 2016 Roddy E, Diab M
• Surgical Consent of Children and Guardians for the Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is Incompletely Informed.
  Spine 2016 Theologis AA, Anaya A, Sabatini C, Sucato DJ, Parent S, Erickson M, Diab M
• Type of bone graft or substitute does not affect outcome of spine fusion with instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2015 Theologis AA, Tabaraee E, Lin T, Lubicky J, Diab M, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• Grey-scale ultrasound findings of lower extremity entheses in healthy children.
  Pediatric rheumatology online journal 2015 Lin C, Diab M, Milojevic D
• Spinal fusion for scoliosis in patients with globally involved cerebral palsy: an ethical assessment.
  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2015 Whitaker AT, Sharkey M, Diab M
• Vertebral body stapling in children younger than 10 years with idiopathic scoliosis with curve magnitude of 30° to 39°.
  Spine 2013 Theologis AA, Cahill P, Auriemma M, Betz R, Diab M
• Discriminative Properties of the Spinal Appearance Questionnaire Compared With the Scoliosis Research Society-22 Revised.
  Spine deformity 2013 Carreon LY, Sanders JO, Diab M, Polly DW, Diamond BE, Sucato DJ
• Culture and ethnicity influence outcomes of the Scoliosis Research Society Instrument in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2012 Morse LJ, Kawakami N, Lenke LG, Sucato DJ, Sanders JO, Diab M
• Use and outcomes of wound drain in spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2012 Diab M, Smucny M, Dormans JP, Erickson MA, Ibrahim K, Lenke LG, Sucato DJ, Sanders JO
• Reliability of radiographic measures of infantile idiopathic scoliosis
  J. Bone Joint Surg. 2012 Corona J, Sanders JO, Luhmann SJ, Diab M, Vitale MG.
• Musculoskeletal disorders among spine surgeons: results of a survey of the Scoliosis Research Society membership.
  Spine 2011 Auerbach JD, Weidner ZD, Milby AH, Diab M, Lonner BS
• Fixation points within the main thoracic curve: does more instrumentation produce greater curve correction and improved results?
  Spine 2011 Sanders JO, Diab M, Richards SB, Lenke LG, Johnston CE, Emans JB, Sucato DJ, Erickson MA, Bridwell KH, McCarthy RE, Sarwark JF, Dormans JP, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• Patient satisfaction after surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2011 Carreon LY, Sanders JO, Diab M, Sturm PF, Sucato DJ, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• Prevalence and predictors of pain in surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2011 Landman Z, Oswald T, Sanders J, Diab M, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• Use and outcome of MRI in the surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2011 Diab M, Landman Z, Lubicky J, Dormans J, Erickson M, Richards BS, members of the Spinal Deformity Study Group
• The role of posterior spinal osteotomies in pediatric spinal deformity surgery: indications and operative technique
  J. Pediatr. Orthop 2011 Diab M, Franzone JM, Vitale MG.
• Variability of spinal cord monitoring practices in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
  Spine 2011 Auerbach JD, Diab M, Sanders JO, Ibrahim K, Dormans JP.
• Patient self-assessment of appearance is improved more by all pedicle screw than by hybrid constructs in surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2011 Smucny M, Lubicky JP, Sanders JO, Carreon LY, Diab M
• The minimum clinically important difference in Scoliosis Research Society-22 Appearance, Activity, And Pain domains after surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2010 Carreon LY, Sanders JO, Diab M, Sucato DJ, Sturm PF, Glassman SD, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• Transfusion-related acute lung injury after transfusion of maternal blood: a case-control study.
  Spine 2010 Dunbar N, Cooke M, Diab M, Toy P
• Preoperative and perioperative factors effect on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgical outcomes.
  Spine 2010 Sanders JO, Carreon LY, Sucato DJ, Sturm PF, Diab M, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• Preoperative bracing affects postoperative outcome of posterior spine fusion with instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2010 Diab M, Sharkey M, Emans J, Lenke L, Oswald T, Sucato D, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• Right thoracic curves in presumed adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: which clinical and radiographic findings correlate with a preoperative abnormal magnetic resonance image?
  Spine 2010 Richards BS, Sucato DJ, Johnston CE, Diab M, Sarwark JF, Lenke LG, Parent S, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• Fixation Points Within the Main Thoracic Curve - Does More Instrumentation Produce Greater Curve Correction?
  Spine 2010 Sanders JO, Diab M, Richards BS, Lenke LG, Johnston CE, Emans JB, Sucato DJ, Erickson MA, Bridwell KH, McCarthy RE, Sarwark JF, Dormans JP, Kuklo T, Shainline M.
• Preoperative and perioperative factors effect on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgical outcomes
  Spine 2010 Sanders JO, Carreon LY, Sucato DJ, Sturm PF, Diab M.
• Right thoracic curves in presumed adolescent idiopathic scoliosis - which clinical and radiographic findings correlate with a preoperative abnormal MRI?
  Spine 2010 Richards BS, Sucato DJ, Johnston CE, Diab M, Sarwark J, Lenke LG, Parent S.
• Transfusion-related acute lung injury after transfusion of maternal blood: a case control study
  Spine 2010 Dunbar N, Cooke M, Diab M, Toy P.
• High-risk pediatric orthopedic pitfalls.
  Emergency medicine clinics of North America 2010 Laine JC, Kaiser SP, Diab M
• Delayed presentation of tetraparesis following posterior thoracolumbar spinal fusion and instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2009 Dapunt UA, Mok JM, Sharkey MS, Davis AA, Foster-Barber A, Diab M
• Symptomatic coalition between the first and second metatarsals in a child.
  Orthopedics 2008 Novak EJ, Elzik M, Diab M
• Music playing in a cast room reduced heart rate in children.
  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2008 Diab M
• Cost-effectiveness analysis of periacetabular osteotomy.
  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2008 Sharifi E, Sharifi H, Morshed S, Bozic K, Diab M
• Comparison of observer variation in conventional and three digital radiographic methods used in the evaluation of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2008 Mok JM, Berven SH, Diab M, Hackbarth M, Hu SS, Deviren V
• Spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis.
  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2008 Hu SS, Tribus CB, Diab M, Ghanayem AJ
• Spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis.
  Instructional course lectures 2008 Hu SS, Tribus CB, Diab M, Ghanayem AJ
• Neural complications in the surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2007 Diab M, Smith AR, Kuklo TR, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• The Spinal Appearance Questionnaire: results of reliability, validity, and responsiveness testing in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.
  Spine 2007 Sanders JO, Harrast JJ, Kuklo TR, Polly DW, Bridwell KH, Diab M, Dormans JP, Drummond DS, Emans JB, Johnston CE, Lenke LG, McCarthy RE, Newton PO, Richards BS, Sucato DJ, Spinal Deformity Study Group
• A biomechanical assessment of thoracic spine stapling
  Spine 2007 Puttlitz C, Masaru F, Barkley A, Acaroglu E, Diab M.
• A rational for treating limb length discrepancy using photodynamic therapy
  Clin. Orthop. 2007 Bisland SK, Johnson CL, Diab M, Wilson BC, Burch S.
• Physical examination in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
  Neurosurg. Clin. N. Am. 2007 Diab M.
• Physical examination in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  Neurosurgery clinics of North America 2007 Diab M
• A biomechanical analysis of sublaminar and subtransverse process fixation using metal wires and polyethylene cables.
  Spine 2006 Fujita M, Diab M, Xu Z, Puttlitz CM
• The effect of age on motor evoked potentials in children under propofol/isoflurane anesthesia.
  Anesthesia and analgesia 2006 Lieberman JA, Lyon R, Feiner J, Diab M, Gregory GA
• Osteotomy does not improve early outcome after slipped capital femoral epiphysis.
  Journal of pediatric orthopedics. Part B 2006 Diab M, Daluvoy S, Snyder BD, Kasser JR
• Scapulothoracic fusion for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
  The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2005 Diab M, Darras BT, Shapiro F
• Acetabular augmentation at six- to 30-years follow-up
  J. Bone Joint Surg. 2005 Diab M, Clark JM, Eyre DR.
• Intertrochanteric versus subcapital osteotomy in slipped capital femoral epiphysis.
  Clinical orthopaedics and related research 2004 Diab M, Hresko MT, Millis MB
• Osseous fragility in Marshall-Smith syndrome.
  American journal of medical genetics. Part A 2003 Diab M, Raff M, Gunther DF
• Orthopædic jargon
  J. Pediat. Orthop 2002 Diab M.
• Retained wooden foreign body in a child's thigh complicated by severe necrotizing fasciitis: a case report and discussion of imaging modalities for early diagnosis
  Pediatr. Emerg. Care 2002 Yanay O, Vaughan DJ, Brownstein D, Brogan TV, Diab M.
• Errors of language in orthopædics
  J. Bone Joint Surg. 2001 Diab M.
• Interobserver variation in the AO/OTA fracture classification system for pilon fractures: is there a problem?
  J. Orthop. Trauma 1997 Swiontkowski MF, Sands AK, Agel J, Diab M, Schwappach JR, Kreder HJ
• Collagen type IX from human articular cartilage: a structural profile of intermolecular cross-linking sites
  Biochem. J. 1996 Diab M, Wu J-J, Eyre DR.
• Abnormality of type IX collagen in a patient with diastrophic dysplasia
  Am. J. Med. Genet. 1994 Diab M, Wu J-J, Shapiro FL, Eyre DR.
• The rôle of type IX collagen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
  Am. J. Orthop 1993 Diab M.
• Modulation of cell-mediated immunity in mice with chronic unisexual and bisexual Schistosoma mansoni cercarial infection
  Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 1989 2. Diab M, Kamal K, Cavender D, Higashi G
• Mechanical properties and control of non-muscular catch in spine ligaments of the sea urchin
  J. Exp. Biol. 1984 Diab M, Gilly WF.