Dr Molinari is the Director of the University of Rochester Spinal Surgery Fellowship Program and an Associate Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Dr. Molinari, a board-certified and fellowship-trained spinal surgeon, came to Rochester 8 years ago from Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, where he was as the Director of Spinal Surgery and Orthopaedic Research. He completed the prestigious Washington University Pedaitric and Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship in St. Louis and is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He served as the United States Armed Forces regional expert for the treatment of complex spinal disorders while fulfilling his military obligation.

Dr Molinari is internationally recognized as an expert in the field of complex spinal surgery. His contributions to the peer-reviewed spinal literature are numerous. He is the author of 6 book chapters in spinal surgery textbooks as well as over 30 scientific articles in peer-reviewed spine journals. He also currently serves as a medical reviewer for both the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Current Opinion in Orthopaedics. Dr. Molinari has received commendations for his outstanding patient care. His team, which includes, William Gruhn, RPA -C and Lauren McGuiness takes great pride in providing quality spinal care to patients.

Dr. Molinari has been practicing medicine successfully for the past 25 years. He specializes in the surgical care of complex spinal disorders in all regions of the spine. His areas of special interest include : herniated disk and spinal stenosis surgery: complex spinal tumors; scoliosis & complex spinal deformity; disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine; spinal trauma, and revision spinal surgery.

• Molinari RW, Dahl J, Gruhn WL, Molinari WJ. Functional outcomes, morbidity, mortality, and fracture healing in 26 consecutive geriatric odontoid fracture patients treated with posterior fusion. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2013 May; 26(3):119-26.
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• Molinari RW, Hunter JG, McAssey RW. In-hospital postoperative radiographs for instrumented single-level degenerative spinal fusions: utility after intraoperative fluoroscopy. Spine J. 2012 Jul; 12(7):559-67.
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• Molinari RW, Khera OA, Molinari Iii WJ. Prophylactic intraoperative powdered vancomycin and postoperative deep spinal wound infection: 1,512 consecutive surgical cases over a 6-year period. Eur Spine J. 2012 Jun; 21 Suppl 4:476-82.
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• Molinari RW, Khera OA, Gruhn WL, McAssey RW. Rigid cervical collar treatment for geriatric type II odontoid fractures. Eur Spine J. 2012 May; 21(5):855-62.
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• Molinari W, Khera O, Gruhn W, Molinari RW. Functional outcomes, morbidity, mortality and fracture healing rates in 58 consecutive geriatric odontoid fracture patients treated with cervical collar or posterior fusion. Evid Based Spine Care J. 2011 Aug; 2(3):55-6.
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• Parada SA, Arrington ED, Kowalski KL, Molinari RW. Unilateral cervical facet dislocation in a 9-year-old boy. Orthopedics. 2010 Dec; 33(12):929.
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• Squires J, Molinari RW. C1 lateral mass screw placement with intentional sacrifice of the C2 ganglion: functional outcomes and morbidity in elderly patients. Eur Spine J. 2010 Aug; 19(8):1318-24.
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• Molinari R, Molinari WJ. Cervical fracture with transient tetraplegia in a youth football player: case report and review of the literature. J Spinal Cord Med. 2010; 33(2):163-7.
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• Brandenstein D, Molinari RW, Rubery PT, Rechtine GR. Unstable subaxial cervical spine injury with normal computed tomography and magnetic resonance initial imaging studies: a report of four cases and review of the literature. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Sep 15; 34(20):E743-50.
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• Woodworth RS, Molinari WJ, Brandenstein D, Gruhn W, Molinari RW. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with structural allograft and plates for the treatment of unstable posterior cervical spine injuries. J Neurosurg Spine. 2009 Feb; 10(2):93-101.
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• DiPaola CP, Molinari RW. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2008 Mar; 16(3):130-9.
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• Anderson PA, Moore TA, Davis KW, Molinari RW, Resnick DK, Vaccaro AR, Bono CM, Dimar JR, Aarabi B, Leverson G. Cervical spine injury severity score. Assessment of reliability. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 May; 89(5):1057-65.
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• Eichinger JK, Arrington ED, Kerr GJ, Molinari R. Bony flexion-distraction injury of the lower lumbar spine treated with instrumentation without fusion and early implant removal: a method of treatment to preserve lumbar motion: two-year follow-up of a teenage patient. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2007 Feb; 20(1):93-6.
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• Morse K, Weight M, Molinari R. Extensive postoperative epidural hematoma after full anticoagulation: case report and review of the literature. J Spinal Cord Med. 2007; 30(3):282-7.
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• Podrecca S, Salvatori P, Squadrelli Saraceno M, Fallahdar D, Calabrese L, Cantù G, Molinari R. Review of 346 patients with free-flap reconstruction following head and neck surgery for neoplasm. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2006; 59(2):122-9.
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• Carmouche JJ, Molinari RW, Gerlinger T, Devine J, Patience T. Effects of pilot hole preparation technique on pedicle screw fixation in different regions of the osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar spine. J Neurosurg Spine. 2005 Nov; 3(5):364-70.
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• Ketz JP, Molinari RW. A unique two-level noncontiguous ligamentous flexion-distraction injury in the thoracolumbar spine. J Neurosurg Spine. 2005 Oct; 3(4):328-31.
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• Molinari RW, Sloboda JF, Arrington EC. Low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis treated with instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion in U.S. servicemen. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2005 Feb; 18 Suppl:S24-9.
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• Carmouche JJ, Molinari RW. Epidural abscess and discitis complicating instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion: a case report. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004 Dec 1; 29(23):E542-6.
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• Molinari RW, Sloboda J, Johnstone FL. Are 2 cages needed with instrumented PLIF? A comparison of 1 versus 2 interbody cages in a military population. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2003 Jul; 32(7):337-43; discussion 343.
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• Licitra L, Grandi C, Guzzo M, Mariani L, Lo Vullo S, Valvo F, Quattrone P, Valagussa P, Bonadonna G, Molinari R, Cantù G. Primary chemotherapy in resectable oral cavity squamous cell cancer: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Jan 15; 21(2):327-33.
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• Khanna N, Molinari R, Lenke L. Exertional myelopathy in type 2 congenital kyphosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2002 Nov 15; 27(22):E488-92.
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• Molinari RW, Bridwell KH, Lenke LG, Baldus C. Anterior column support in surgery for high-grade, isthmic spondylolisthesis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2002 Jan; (394):109-20.
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• Molinari RW, Gerlinger T. Functional outcomes of instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion in active-duty US servicemen: a comparison with nonoperative management. Spine J. 2001 May-Jun; 1(3):215-24.
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• Molinari RW, Bridwell KH, Lenke LG, Ungacta FF, Riew KD. Complications in the surgical treatment of pediatric high-grade, isthmic dysplastic spondylolisthesis. A comparison of three surgical approaches. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1999 Aug 15; 24(16):1701-11.
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• Molinari RW, Bridwell KH, Klepps SJ, Baldus C. Minimum 5-year follow-up of anterior column structural allografts in the thoracic and lumbar spine. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1999 May 15; 24(10):967-72.
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• Molinari RW, Yang EC, Strauss E, Einhorn TA. Timing of internal fixation in low-velocity extremity gunshot fractures. Contemp Orthop. 1994 Nov; 29(5):335-9.
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• Wheeler JH, Ryan JB, Arciero RA, Molinari RN. Arthroscopic versus nonoperative treatment of acute shoulder dislocations in young athletes. Arthroscopy. 1989; 5(3):213-7.
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