I am a board certified Orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive spinal surgery and complex spinal surgery/scoliosis. I have extensive experience in managing degenerative disc disease or degenerative spine and disc herniation and stenosis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. My team provides both nonoperative and operative treatment of cervical, thoracic and lumbar pain and radiculopathy/sciatica. I also manage traumatic spine disorders and a wide range of spinal pathologies using techniques ranging from minimally invasive spine surgery to complex spinal reconstruction.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Dr. Menga is the Division Chief of Spine Surgery and an Associate Professor of Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Menga serves as the Louis A. Goldstein Spine Surgery Fellowship Program Director. He also serves as the Associate Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program Director for our Orthopaedic Surgery residency training program.

Dr. Menga is a veteran of the United States Navy where he served as a Petty Officer with the Amphibious Construction Battalion Unit. He earned his medical degree at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He completed his residency training in Orthopaedic surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was awarded the prestigious Frank L. Coulson, Jr. Award for Clinical Excellence by The Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence (MCACE) at Johns Hopkins Medicine as a Chief Resident. Dr. Menga then completed his fellowship training in Orthopaedic spinal and deformity surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center and the Hospital for Joint Diseases in a combined Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery training program.

Dr. Menga has also had additional experience traveling to and visiting world renowned spine surgeons to share his experience and knowledge in spinal deformity and reconstruction. He recently visited the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in Nanjing China and Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology at Bordeaux University Hospital in Bordeaux, France.

Dr. Menga was also recently awarded the prestigious Edgar Dawson Travelling Fellowship by the Scoliosis Research society (SRS) giving him the opportunity to visit other deformity spine surgeons to expand and share his knowledge with other spinal deformity surgeons in North America.

Dr. Menga was in 2018, awarded the North American Spine Society (NASS) top 20 spine surgeons in North America under age 40 award (Spine Line’s inaugural “20 under age 40”)

TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY

My treatment philosophy is to give my patients the best care possible.

Treatment is tailored to each individual, using a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach including physical therapist and pain management physicians to provide personalized care to each of my patients. Before considerations for surgery, I explore all the options available to address your back pain, providing a thorough assessment and evaluation, taking into consideration how much the pain is affecting your quality of life and your activity of daily living.

My goal is to provide long-term improvement of your symptoms using the minimally invasive techniques and thus minimizing your risk before I recommend surgery. Using state-of-the-art surgical procedures, I treat a wide range of common spinal conditions. You are encouraged to contact my office or me directly with any questions or concerns regarding you condition and care.

Certified Specialties

Orthopaedic Surgery - American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Orthopaedics (SMD)

Associate Professor - Department of Neurosurgery (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, NYU Langone Medical Center. 2014 - 2015

Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital. 2010 - 2014

Internship, Johns Hopkins Hospital. 2009 - 2010

Education

MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine/Dentistry. 2009

Awards

Edgar Dawson Traveling Fellowship by the Scoliosis Research society (SRS). 2018

North American Spine Society (NASS) Spine Line's inaugural "20 under 40" award. 2018

American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) Emerging Leaders Program. 2015

AAOS/OREF/ORS Clinician Scholar Development Program (CSCDP). 2015

Frank L. Coulson, Jr. Award for Clinical Excellence. 2014

NASS Value Award Paper Nominee (Anatomy-Anatomic Parameters for Direct Intralaminar Pars Screw Fixation). 2013

NASS Value Award Paper Nominee (Outcomes-Direct Intralaminar Pars Screw Fixation). 2013

1st Place Winner Resident/Fellow Research Competition. 2012

Best Paper Outcomes/Cost-Utility. 2012

Honorable Discharge - United States Navy. 2002

Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society. 2002

Research

I am actively involved in research on the clinical and functional outcomes of pediatric and adult spine surgery. I have authored multiple peer-reviewed journal publications and book chapters on topics in spinal surgery and Orthopaedic surgery. I have presented my research at multiple national and ...

Publications

Journal Articles

Ultralong Follow-Up of Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Harrington Instrumentation vs Uninstrumented Fusion.

Joo P, Maqsoodi N, Sulovari A, Omar A, Section J, Sanders J, Rubery P, Menga E, Mesfin A

International journal of spine surgery.. 2022 July 25 Epub 07/25/2022.

Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life After Harrington Instrumentation and Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Minimum 40-Year Follow-up.

Lander ST, Thirukumaran C, Saleh A, Noble KL, Menga EN, Mesfin A, Rubery PT, Sanders JO

The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.. 2022 June 1104 (11):995-1003. Epub 04/22/2022.

The fourth column of the spine: Prevalence of sternal fractures and concurrent thoracic spinal fractures.

Breitenbach M, Phan A, Botros M, Paul D, Molinari R, Menga E, Mesfin A

Injury.. 2021 December 26 Epub 12/26/2021.

Readability of the Most Commonly Accessed Online Patient Education Materials Pertaining to Surgical Treatments of the Spine.

Phan A, Jubril A, Menga E, Mesfin A

World neurosurgery.. 2021 June 14 Epub 06/14/2021.

A 43-Year Follow-Up of Unilateral Harrington Rod Instrumentation and Limited Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Vokes J, Menga E, Mesfin A

Cure?us.. 2021 April 513 (4):e14299. Epub 04/05/2021.

Traumatic Bilateral L3-4 Facet Dislocation With Open Decompression and Short Segment Fusion.

Liu AY, Menga EN

International journal of spine surgery.. 2021 February 14 (s4):S21-S25. Epub 01/18/2021.

Erratum to <Comparison of adult spinal deformity patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis undergoing primary non-cervical spinal fusion surgery: a nationwide analysis of 52,818 patients> <[The Spine Journal 18 (2018) 1861-1866]>.

Bernstein DN, Kurucan E, Menga EN, Molinari RW, Rubery PT, Mesfin A

The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society.. 2020 September 17 Epub 09/17/2020.

Evaluating Trends and Outcomes of Spinal Deformity Surgery in Cerebral Palsy Patients.

Menga EN, Bernstein DN, Thirukumaran C, McCormick SK, Rubery PT, Mesfin A

International journal of spine surgery.. 2020 June 14 (3):382-390. Epub 06/30/2020.

Predictors of 30-Day Unplanned Readmissions, Complications, and Mortality Following Operative Management of C2 Fractures.

Bernstein DN, Thirukumaran C, Raudenbush B, Molinari RW, Menga EN, Mesfin A

Global spine journal.. 2020 April 10 (2):130-137. Epub 05/01/2019.

Online ratings of spinal deformity surgeons: analysis of 634 surgeons.

Melone G, Brodell J, Hernandez C, Menga E, Balkissoon R, Liu X, Zhang J, Mesfin A

Spine deformity.. 2020 January 8 Epub 01/08/2020.

National Trends and Complications in the Surgical Management of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL).

Bernstein DN, Prong M, Kurucan E, Jain A, Menga EN, Riew KD, Mesfin A

Spine.. 2019 November 1544 (22):1550-1557. Epub 1900 01 01.

An Analysis of Patient and Fracture Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Hyperostotic Spine Fractures.

Bernstein DN, McCalla DJ, Molinari RW, Rubery PT, Menga EN, Mesfin A

Global spine journal.. 2019 November 12 :2192568219887157. Epub 11/12/2019.

Trends in spinal deformity surgery in Marfan syndrome.

Kurucan E, Bernstein DN, Ying M, Li Y, Menga EN, Sponseller PD, Mesfin A

The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society.. 2019 August 12 Epub 08/12/2019.

Reducing Surgical Site Infections in Spine Tumor Surgery: A comparison of three methods.

Mesfin A, Baldwin A, Bernstein D, Emanski E, Molinari R, Menga E, Rubery PT

Spine.. 2019 July 29 Epub 07/29/2019.

Proximal Junctional Kyphosis: A Pediatric and Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Dilemma.

Mika AP, Mesfin A, Rubery PT, Molinari R, Kebaish KM, Menga EN

JBJS reviews.. 2019 April 7 (4):e4. Epub 1900 01 01.

Evaluating the Correlation and Performance of PROMIS to SRS Questionnaires in Adult and Pediatric Spinal Deformity Patients.

Bernstein DN, Papuga MO, Sanders JO, Rubery PT, Menga EN, Mesfin A

Spine deformity.. 2019 January 7 (1):118-124. Epub 1900 01 01.

An Evaluation of PROMIS in Patients with Primary or Metastatic Spine Tumors.

Bernstein DN, Bakhsh W, Papuga MO, Menga EN, Rubery PT, Mesfin A

Spine.. 2018 November 20 Epub 11/20/2018.

Comparison of adult spinal deformity patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis undergoing primary non-cervical spinal fusion surgery: a nationwide analysis of 52,818 patients.

Bernstein DN, Kurucan E, Menga EN, Molinari RW, Rubery PT, Mesfin A

The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society.. 2018 October 18 (10):1861-1866. Epub 04/06/2018.

Scholarly Success of Orthopaedic Surgeons Participating in the Clinician Scholar Career Development Program.

Bernstein DN, Lawson M, Menga EN, O'Keefe RJ, Rubery PT, Mesfin A

The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.. 2018 September 5100 (17):e115. Epub 1900 01 01.

Outcomes Following Surgical Management of Cauda Equina Syndrome: Does Race Matter?

Jain A, Menga E, Mesfin A

Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities.. 2018 April 5 (2):287-292. Epub 04/21/2017.

National Trends in Spinal Fusion Surgery for Neurofibromatosis.

Kurucan E, Bernstein DN, Thirukumaran C, Jain A, Menga EN, Rubery PT, Mesfin A

Spine deformity.. 2018 6 (6):712-718. Epub 1900 01 01.

Do Bisphosphonates affect fusion rates? How to manage these mediations in the perioperative time frame.

Menga EN; Webb AJ; Mesfin A.

Seminars in Spine Surgery. 2017; .

Variability Over Time of Preoperative Sagittal Alignment Parameters: Radiographic and Clinical Considerations.

Menga EN, Spiegel MA, Vira S, Lafage R, Henry JK, Liabaud B, Oren JH, Worley N, Schwab FJ, Errico TJ, Lafage V, Protopsaltis TS

Spine.. 2016 December 1541 (24):1896-1902. Epub 1900 01 01.

Intraoperative Cardiopulmonary Arrest in Children Undergoing Spinal Deformity Correction: Causes and Associated Factors.

Menga EN, Hirschfeld C, Jain A, Tran DP, Caine HD, Njoku DB, Karol LA, Sponseller PD

Spine.. 2015 November 40 (22):1757-62. Epub 1900 01 01.

Pelvic Fixation in Adult and Pediatric Spine Surgery: Historical Perspective, Indications, and Techniques: AAOS Exhibit Selection.

Jain A, Hassanzadeh H, Strike SA, Menga EN, Sponseller PD, Kebaish KM

The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.. 2015 September 1697 (18):1521-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Unplanned Hospital Readmissions and Reoperations After Pediatric Spinal Fusion Surgery.

Jain A, Puvanesarajah V, Menga EN, Sponseller PD

Spine.. 2015 June 140 (11):856-62. Epub 1900 01 01.

Anesthesia and Neuromonitoring

Menga EN; Spessot GJ; Bendo JA.

Seminars in Spine Surgery. 2015; 27(4): 197-200.

Thoracic disc disorders with myelopathy: treatment trends, patient characteristics, and complications.

Jain A, Menga EN, Hassanzadeh H, Jain P, Lemma MA, Mesfin A

Spine.. 2014 September 1539 (20):E1233-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Anatomic parameters: direct intralaminar screw repair of spondylolysis.

Menga EN, Jain A, Kebaish KM, Zimmerman SL, Sponseller PD

Spine.. 2014 February 139 (3):E153-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Clinical results and functional outcomes after direct intralaminar screw repair of spondylolysis.

Menga EN, Kebaish KM, Jain A, Carrino JA, Sponseller PD

Spine.. 2014 January 139 (1):104-10. Epub 1900 01 01.

National Complication Rate and Trends in the Management of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Analysis of 2,594 Patients

Mesfin A; Jain A; Menga EN.

The Spine Journal. 2012; 12(9): S4.

A continuous observation of the degenerative process in the intervertebral disc of Smad3 gene knock-out mice.

Li CG, Liang QQ, Zhou Q, Menga E, Cui XJ, Shu B, Zhou CJ, Shi Q, Wang YJ

Spine.. 2009 June 134 (13):1363-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Books

Cervical Myelopathy (2015)

Chapter: The Role of Total Disk Replacement for the Treatment of Cervical Myelopathy

Authors: Menga EN, Vira S, Bendo JA

Publisher: Jaypee Medical, Philadelphia 2015

The Management of Disorders of the Child's Cervical Spine (2014)

Chapter: Anterior cervical arthrodesis in children

Authors: Menga EN, Ain MC, Sponseller PD

Publisher: Springer, New York 2014

Spine Surgery: Current Concepts and Evidence (2014)

Chapter: Thoracic radiculopathy and myelopathy

Authors: Ponnusamy KE, Menga EN, Khanna AJ

Publisher: McGraw-Hill, New York 2014

Basic Science of Spinal Diseases (2013)

Chapter: Imaging Of The Intervertebral Disc

Authors: Menga EN, Dewan AK, Khanna AJ

Publisher: Jaypee Medical, New Delhi (India) 2013

Surgical Techniques of the Shoulder, Elbow, and Knee in Sports Medicine (2013)

Chapter: Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction and Repair For Patellar Instability

Authors: Menga EN, Cosgarea AJ

Publisher: Elsevier, New York 2013

Ratings & Reviews

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