Dr. Bradley Weiner, MD

Dr. Bradley Weiner Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Dr. Bradley Weiner is an orthopedic spine surgeon providing advanced evaluation and surgical care for conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.

His clinical work includes degenerative spine disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, nerve compression, spinal instability, deformity, and other conditions that can cause neck pain, back pain, weakness, numbness, or reduced mobility.

Dr. Weiner has extensive experience in minimally invasive spinal microsurgery. These techniques are designed to treat selected spinal conditions while limiting disruption to surrounding muscles and tissues.

He serves as Medical Director of Spine Surgery at HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center and practises with the Center for Advanced Spine and Orthopaedic Surgery in Houston.

Patients comparing spine specialists can also read about Dr. Daniel H. Kim’s neurosurgical and spine care.

Doctor Information

Name: Dr. Bradley Weiner, MD
Specialty: Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Clinical Focus: Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders
Undergraduate Education: Allegheny College
Undergraduate Field: Analytic Philosophy
Residency: Orthopedic Surgery, Summa Health System
Fellowship: Spine Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, Australia
Practice: Center for Advanced Spine and Orthopaedic Surgery
Professional Role: Medical Director of Spine Surgery
Primary Location: Houston, Texas
Hospital Affiliation: HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center
Telehealth: Available for suitable appointments
Accepting New Patients: Yes, according to current public profiles

Dr. Weiner’s current professional biography also describes earlier academic leadership positions at Penn State University and Houston Methodist Hospital. These included serving as a spine surgery division chief, professor, vice chair for academics, and founding orthopedic surgery residency programme director.

About Dr. Bradley Weiner

Dr. Weiner completed his undergraduate education at Allegheny College, where he studied analytic philosophy. He later attended medical school and completed orthopedic surgery residency training through Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio.

He then completed specialist fellowship training in spine surgery at Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, Australia.

Following his clinical training, Dr. Weiner combined spine surgery with medical education, research, and programme leadership. His previous academic roles included Chief of the Division of Spine Surgery at Penn State University and several positions at Houston Methodist Hospital.

In 2023, he joined HCA Houston Healthcare, became Medical Director of Spine Surgery, and founded the Center for Advanced Spine and Orthopaedic Surgery.

His clinical practice focuses on disorders involving the neck, middle back, and lower back. Treatment may include non-surgical recommendations, minimally invasive procedures, decompression, spinal fusion, or another form of reconstruction when medically appropriate.

Orthopedic Spine Surgery

Orthopedic spine surgery focuses on conditions affecting the bones, discs, joints, ligaments, nerves, and supporting structures of the spinal column.

Dr. Weiner may evaluate patients experiencing:

• Neck pain
• Lower back pain
• Pain spreading into an arm or leg
• Numbness or tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty walking
• Reduced balance
• Spinal stiffness
• Loss of hand coordination
• Pain that continues despite conservative care

Not every patient who meets with a spine surgeon needs an operation.

The first step is usually to determine where the symptoms originate and whether the findings can be managed with medication, physical therapy, activity changes, injections, or another non-surgical treatment.

Cervical Spine Conditions

The cervical spine consists of the vertebrae and discs in the neck.

Conditions in this area can cause local neck pain as well as symptoms affecting the shoulders, arms, hands, balance, or coordination.

Dr. Weiner may evaluate cervical concerns such as:

• Cervical disc herniation
• Cervical spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Cervical myelopathy
• Bone spurs
• Spinal instability
• Neck injuries
• Previous cervical surgery concerns

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve leaving the neck becomes irritated or compressed. It may cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or hand.

Cervical myelopathy occurs when the spinal cord itself becomes compressed. Possible symptoms include hand clumsiness, balance difficulty, leg stiffness, weakness, and changes in walking.

Thoracic Spine Conditions

The thoracic spine is the middle section of the back.

Disorders in this area are less common than neck and lower-back problems but can still cause significant pain or neurological symptoms.

Dr. Weiner may assess:

• Thoracic disc herniation
• Thoracic spinal stenosis
• Compression fractures
• Spinal deformity
• Tumours or abnormal growths
• Pain surrounding the chest or ribs
• Weakness or sensory changes
• Previous thoracic surgery complications

Because the spinal cord passes through the thoracic spine, symptoms involving weakness, walking, or coordination may require careful evaluation.

Testing may include X-rays, MRI, CT imaging, or other studies selected according to the suspected condition.

Lumbar Spine Conditions

The lumbar spine forms the lower part of the back and carries much of the body’s weight.

Dr. Weiner may evaluate lumbar conditions such as:

• Herniated discs
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Sciatica
• Spondylolisthesis
• Facet joint arthritis
• Spinal instability
• Compression fractures
• Recurrent pain after previous surgery

A lumbar nerve problem may cause pain that travels through the buttock and leg. Some patients also experience numbness, tingling, weakness, or reduced ability to stand and walk.

Treatment depends on the cause, severity, duration, imaging findings, and effect on daily function.

Herniated Disc Care

A spinal disc acts as a cushion between neighbouring vertebrae. A herniated disc occurs when part of the disc pushes outward and irritates or compresses nearby nerves.

Possible symptoms include:

• Neck or back pain
• Arm or leg pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Pain triggered by movement
• Reduced ability to sit, stand, or walk comfortably

Many disc herniations improve without surgery.

Initial treatment may involve medication, physical therapy, activity adjustments, and carefully selected injections.

Surgery may be considered when symptoms continue despite treatment, weakness progresses, or nerve compression creates a significant neurological concern.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis means the space available for the spinal cord or nerves has become narrowed.

Narrowing may develop because of:

• Disc degeneration
• Bone spurs
• Thickened ligaments
• Enlarged spinal joints
• Disc herniation
• Spinal slippage
• Previous surgery
• Age-related structural changes

Lumbar stenosis can cause leg pain, heaviness, weakness, or numbness that becomes worse during standing or walking.

Cervical stenosis can affect the spinal cord and may interfere with hand function, balance, strength, or coordination.

Treatment may include therapy, medication, injections, decompression surgery, or decompression combined with fusion.

Sciatica

Sciatica describes pain linked to irritation of nerves that contribute to the sciatic nerve.

The pain may begin in the lower back or buttock and travel into the thigh, lower leg, or foot.

Additional symptoms can include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning discomfort
• Leg weakness
• Pain while sitting
• Difficulty standing or walking
• Symptoms triggered by coughing or movement

Sciatica is a symptom rather than a single diagnosis. It may result from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, bone spur, or another form of nerve compression.

Dr. Weiner may use examination findings and imaging to identify the source before recommending treatment.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward in relation to the vertebra beneath it.

It may be associated with degeneration, stress injury, congenital anatomy, trauma, or previous surgery.

Possible symptoms include:

• Lower-back pain
• Leg pain
• Numbness
• Muscle tightness
• Difficulty standing
• Reduced walking tolerance
• Spinal instability

Mild or stable cases may be managed with non-surgical care.

Surgery may be considered when slippage causes significant nerve compression, instability, progressive symptoms, or severe functional limitations.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Spinal discs gradually change with age. These changes do not always cause pain, but some patients develop symptoms when disc degeneration affects nearby joints, nerves, or spinal alignment.

Possible symptoms include:

• Neck or back pain
• Stiffness
• Pain during sitting
• Pain during bending or lifting
• Reduced range of movement
• Arm or leg symptoms
• Repeated painful episodes

Imaging findings alone do not determine whether surgery is appropriate.

Dr. Weiner may compare the imaging with the patient’s examination and symptom pattern to determine whether the disc changes are likely to be responsible.

Minimally Invasive Spinal Microsurgery

Dr. Weiner’s professional profile describes him as a leader in minimally invasive spinal microsurgery.

Minimally invasive spine surgery uses specialised instruments, imaging, and smaller surgical approaches to reach the affected spinal area.

Potential advantages for suitable patients may include:

• Smaller incisions
• Less muscle disruption
• Reduced blood loss
• Shorter hospital stays
• Faster early recovery
• Less postoperative discomfort
• Lower risk of some wound complications

These possible benefits vary according to the procedure, diagnosis, health of the patient, and complexity of the condition.

A minimally invasive approach is not always appropriate. Open surgery may provide safer access or better correction for severe deformity, extensive instability, complex revision surgery, or another advanced condition.

Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression surgery creates more space for compressed nerves or the spinal cord.

Procedures may involve removing:

• A small portion of bone
• Thickened ligament
• Part of a damaged disc
• Bone spurs
• Tissue pressing on a nerve

Common decompression procedures include laminotomy, laminectomy, and discectomy.

The exact approach depends on the location and cause of compression.

Some patients need decompression alone, while others require fusion when instability is present or likely to develop.

Discectomy and Microdiscectomy

A discectomy removes disc material pressing on a spinal nerve.

Microdiscectomy uses magnification and a focused surgical approach to remove the compressing fragment while limiting disruption to surrounding structures.

The procedure may be considered when a herniated disc causes:

• Continuing arm or leg pain
• Significant nerve compression
• Progressive weakness
• Reduced daily function
• Symptoms that do not improve with conservative treatment

The goal is to relieve pressure on the nerve. The operation may improve radiating limb symptoms more predictably than general neck or back discomfort that has several possible causes.

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion joins two or more vertebrae to reduce painful or unsafe movement.

It may be used for:

• Spinal instability
• Spondylolisthesis
• Severe degeneration
• Spinal deformity
• Fracture
• Recurrent disc problems
• Instability after decompression
• Selected revision procedures

Fusion may involve bone graft, screws, rods, cages, or other implants.

Before recommending fusion, Dr. Weiner may assess whether the expected improvement justifies the loss of movement at the treated segment and the demands of recovery.

Artificial Disc Replacement

Artificial disc replacement may be an option for selected patients with cervical or lumbar disc disease.

The damaged disc is removed and replaced with an implant designed to preserve movement at the treated level.

Suitability may depend on:

• Location of disc damage
• Number of affected levels
• Spinal alignment
• Joint condition
• Bone quality
• Presence of instability
• Previous spinal surgery
• General health

Artificial disc replacement is not appropriate for every patient. Fusion or another treatment may be safer when advanced arthritis, instability, deformity, or poor bone quality is present.

Spinal Deformity

Spinal deformity includes abnormal curvature or alignment of the spine.

Adult deformity may develop because of:

• Degenerative changes
• Earlier scoliosis
• Previous spinal surgery
• Vertebral fractures
• Bone weakness
• Neuromuscular conditions
• Structural imbalance

Symptoms may include pain, leaning, reduced height, fatigue, difficulty standing upright, and limited walking tolerance.

Treatment can range from therapy and medication to complex reconstructive surgery.

Surgical planning may require full-length X-rays, advanced imaging, bone-health assessment, and review of the patient’s overall medical condition.

Revision Spine Surgery

Some patients continue to experience symptoms after an earlier spinal operation or develop a new problem at the same or nearby level.

Reasons for revision surgery may include:

• Recurrent disc herniation
• Continued nerve compression
• Implant problems
• Failure of fusion
• Infection
• Spinal instability
• Adjacent-level degeneration
• Progressive deformity
• Scar tissue
• Incomplete symptom relief

Revision surgery can be more complex because the anatomy has already been altered.

Dr. Weiner may review the original diagnosis, operative reports, current imaging, and response to previous treatment before deciding whether another procedure is likely to help.

Non-Surgical Spine Care

Meeting with a spine surgeon does not automatically lead to an operation.

Dr. Weiner may recommend or coordinate:

• Physical therapy
• Activity modification
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Pain-relieving medicine
• Home exercise
• Posture and movement adjustments
• Spinal injections
• Weight-related health support
• Observation
• Referral to pain medicine
• Follow-up imaging

The treatment plan may change when symptoms continue, weakness develops, neurological function worsens, or non-surgical care no longer provides enough improvement.

Diagnostic Testing

Spine diagnosis may involve several types of testing.

Dr. Weiner may review or request:

• Standing X-rays
• Flexion and extension X-rays
• MRI
• CT imaging
• Myelography
• Electromyography
• Nerve-conduction studies
• Bone-density testing
• Laboratory tests
• Diagnostic injections

Each test answers a different clinical question.

MRI is useful for discs, nerves, the spinal cord, and soft tissues. CT imaging provides detailed information about bone. Dynamic X-rays can show movement or instability.

Testing should be interpreted together with the patient’s symptoms and physical examination.

Research and Academic Experience

Dr. Weiner has held significant academic and research roles throughout his career.

His public biography states that he has published more than 200 scientific papers and book chapters related to spine surgery, tissue engineering, diagnostic methods, and outcomes of surgical treatment.

It also describes research supported by the United States Department of Defense and DARPA, including work aimed at developing treatments for severely injured military personnel.

His academic work has included:

• Basic science research
• Clinical spine research
• Evidence-based medicine
• Tissue engineering
• Surgical outcomes research
• Medical education
• Residency programme leadership
• National and international editorial work

Research experience can help a surgeon assess how strongly a treatment is supported by available evidence, although each decision must still be tailored to the individual patient.

Preparing for a Spine Consultation

Patients can prepare by bringing:

• Recent X-rays
• MRI or CT images
• Written radiology reports
• Previous operative reports
• Physical therapy records
• Injection records
• A current medication list
• A list of medication allergies
• Details of previous treatment
• Questions about the diagnosis

Patients should explain:

• When symptoms began
• Where pain travels
• Whether numbness or weakness is present
• What activities worsen symptoms
• How walking or balance has changed
• Which treatments have already been attempted
• How symptoms affect work, sleep, or independence

The actual images may provide information that is not fully described in the written radiology report.

Questions to Ask Before Spine Surgery

Before deciding on surgery, patients may ask:

• What is causing my symptoms?
• Does the imaging match my symptoms?
• What happens without surgery?
• Which non-surgical treatments remain available?
• What procedure is being recommended?
• Why is this procedure suitable?
• Is decompression alone possible?
• Will fusion be required?
• What improvement is realistic?
• What risks are most relevant?
• How long may recovery take?
• Will physical therapy be needed?

Clear answers can help patients compare the expected benefit with the risks, restrictions, and recovery demands.

Preparing for Surgery

Patients approved for spine surgery may need medical testing and practical planning.

Preparation may include:

• Blood tests
• Heart testing when appropriate
• Medication review
• Diabetes management
• Blood pressure control
• Anaesthesia assessment
• Infection-risk evaluation
• Tobacco cessation
• Home-safety preparation
• Transportation arrangements
• Planning for help during recovery

Patients should provide a complete list of prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements.

Blood thinners and certain diabetes medicines may require special instructions. They should not be stopped without guidance from the surgical or prescribing team.

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Recovery depends on the operation, diagnosis, number of treated spinal levels, health of the patient, and physical condition before surgery.

The recovery plan may include:

• Pain and swelling management
• Incision care
• Walking
• Temporary lifting restrictions
• Use of a brace when appropriate
• Physical therapy
• Home exercise
• Follow-up imaging
• Return-to-work planning
• Gradual increase in activity

Patients undergoing decompression alone may have a different recovery period from those undergoing fusion or complex reconstruction.

Following activity and rehabilitation instructions can reduce the risk of stiffness, weakness, falls, and reinjury.

Telehealth Appointments

Current provider information lists telehealth visits as available when appropriate.

A virtual appointment may be useful for:

• Reviewing imaging results
• Discussing previous treatment
• Postoperative follow-up
• Medication questions
• Reviewing recovery progress
• Discussing whether an in-person consultation is needed

A complete neurological examination, new weakness assessment, imaging, and certain postoperative concerns still require in-person care.

The practice can determine which appointment format is most appropriate.

Coordinated Spine Care

Spine conditions may require cooperation between several healthcare professionals.

Dr. Weiner may coordinate with:

• Primary care physicians
• Neurologists
• Neurosurgeons
• Pain medicine physicians
• Physical medicine specialists
• Physical therapists
• Radiologists
• Anaesthesiologists
• Other orthopedic surgeons

Coordination can help ensure that imaging, medication, therapy, injections, and surgical recommendations address the same diagnosis.

Patients may also compare care with Dr. Gurpeet Singh’s neurological and spine services.

Patient-Centered Spine Care

Dr. Weiner provides orthopedic spine care based on the patient’s symptoms, neurological findings, imaging, previous treatment, medical health, and personal goals.

His clinical work includes cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine evaluation, minimally invasive spinal microsurgery, decompression, disc surgery, spinal fusion, deformity correction, and revision procedures.

Patients should confirm current appointment availability, insurance participation, telehealth eligibility, hospital arrangements, and referral requirements directly with the Center for Advanced Spine and Orthopaedic Surgery.