Physicians
Tyler J. Jenkins, MD
Minimally-invasive Spine
Request an AppointmentDr. Tyler J. Jenkins is a fellowship-trained, ABOS board certified spine surgeon who has dedicated his career to the comprehensive treatment and surgery of spinal disorders. He has a special interest in motion-sparing (non-fusion) surgery, scoliosis, revision surgery, and minimally-invasive techniques.
He attended the Honors College at the University of Missouri on an academic scholarship, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in chemistry and was elected into Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Dr. Jenkins attended medical school at the University of Missouri and graduated with superior distinction for his academic and leadership achievements. He completed his general surgery internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. He then graduated from the world-renowned spine surgery fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. His training at Emory focused on complex spine surgery at Emory University Hospitals, Grady Memorial Hospital, and the Atlanta Veterans Hospital.
Dr. Jenkins is passionate about evidence-based spine care and he believes that the best way to stay engaged in this life-long learning is through research and a continuous search for solutions to clinical problems. He has authored numerous publications, textbook chapters, and presented research at national symposiums. His textbook "Spinal Conditions in the Athlete" is currently in publication. He has earned top research awards from the North American Spine Society, Cervical Spine Research Society, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. In collaboration with top spine surgeons across the country, he developed the "No S.C.A.R.E. Protocol" which aims to improve safety for patients undergoing cervical surgery throughout the country.
This pursuit of learning has left Dr. Jenkins with the conclusion that the marriage between evidence-based research and listening to each individual patient is at the heart of medicine. Most patients with spinal conditions do not need surgery and can be effectively managed with injections, medications, alternative medicine, diet, and exercise. However, when spine surgery is needed choosing the unique operation for the individual patient will lead to the best outcomes. A personalized and caring approach is what patients can expect when consulting with Dr. Jenkins.
Dr. Jenkins was raised in Eureka, Missouri. He and his wife Dr. Ashley Jenkins, a dermatologist, are ecstatic about practicing in their home state after training throughout the country. When they aren't working with patients, they try and soak up every moment with their children and are active in their church community.
Dr. Jenkins' team includes:
Jena PA-C
Shana, Nurse
Choosing the Right Spine Surgeon
SPINE HOMEWORK
I encourage you to play an active role in your spine care. Use this area to find educational articles about spine anatomy, conditions, and treatments from NASS, SRS, and AAOS. Increased understanding of your health can lead to better outcomes!
Anatomy of the Spine & Spine Health
Spine Basics
Low Back Basics
Disc Herniation
Keeping Your Back Healthy
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis & Spine Fractures
Neck Problems
Pinched Nerve (Cervical Radiculopathy)
Neck Arthritis (Cervical Spondylosis)
Spinal Cord Compression (Myelopathy)
Back Problems
Slipped Vertebrae (Spondylolisthesis)
Back Pain in Children
Cauda Equina
Lumbar Herniated Disc (Disc Bulge)
Lumbar Herniated Disc Video
Lumbar Stenosis (Pressure on Nerves)
Lumbar Stenosis Video
Pars Fracture (Spondylolysis)
Treatments & Surgeries
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
Bone Grafts in Spine Surgery
Cervical Radiculopathy Treatment Options
Cervical Myelopathy Treatment Options
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Transforaminal Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion
Preparing for Back Surgery
Spinal Fusion
Words Used During Spine Surgery
Spine Conditioning Program
Microdiscectomy
Lumbar Laminectomy
Fellowship: Complex Spine Fellowship Emory University - Atlanta, GA
Orthopaedic Residency: Northwestern University - Chicago, IL
Medical Degree: University of Missouri School of Medicine - Columbia, MO
Bachelors Degree: University of Missouri - Columbia, MO
Webinars
Chronic Neck Pain Webinar - Treatment Options & When to Consider Surgery
Textbooks
Jenkins TJ, Hsu WK. Spinal Conditions in the Athlete: A Clinical Guide to Evaluation, Management and Controversies 1st ed. 2020 Edition. Springer Textbooks.
Research Publications
Jenkins TJ, Snowden RD, Smucker J, Hsu WK, Riew KD, Sasso RC. No S.C.A.R.E. Protocol: A Streamlined Safety Protocol. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020 Jan 1;28(1):21-28. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-18-00698. PMID: 31090553.
Jenkins TJ, Nair R, Bhatt S, Rosenthal BD, Savage JW, Hsu WK, Patel AA. The Effect of Local Versus Intravenous Corticosteroids on the Likelihood of Dysphagia and Dysphonia Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Single-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Sep 5;100(17):1461-1472. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.17.01540. PMID: 30180054.
Rosenthal BD, Jenkins TJ, Ranade A, Bhatt S, Hsu WK, Patel AA. The use of a novel tablet application to quantify dysfunction in cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients. Spine J. 2019 Jan;19(1):157-162. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.05.038. Epub 2018 Aug 23. PMID: 30144533.
Plantz MA, Selverian S, Jenkins TJ, Watkins RG, Watkins RG, Hecht AC, Hsu WK. Evidence-Based Management of Spinal Conditions in the Elite Athlete. Instr Course Lect. 2021;70:337-354. PMID: 33438920.
McCarthy MH, Singh P, Nayak R, Maslak JP, Jenkins TJ, Patel AA, Hsu WK. Can the American College of Surgeons Risk Calculator Predict 30-day Complications After Spine Surgery? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2020 May 1;45(9):621-628. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003340. PMID: 31770319.
Lawton CD, Butler BA, Selley RS, Barth KA, Balderama ES, Jenkins TJ, Sheth U, Tjong VK, Terry MA. Pelvic incidence in a femoroacetabular impingement population. J Orthop. 2020 Apr 1;22:90-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2020.03.056. Erratum in: J Orthop. 2020 Dec 14;23:273. PMID: 32292255; PMCID: PMC7150430.
Rosenthal BD, Boody BS, Jenkins TJ, Hsu WK, Patel AA, Savage JW. Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures. Clin Spine Surg. 2018 May;31(4):143-151. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000634. PMID: 29578877.
Awender JF, Lawton CD, Jenkins TJ, Butler BA, Selley RS, Tjong VK, Terry MA, Hsu WK. A Current Update on Pelvifemoral Conditions That Should be in the Differential Diagnosis for Patients With Lower Extremity Radiculopathy. Clin Spine Surg. 2021 Jul 1;34(6):206-215. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000001180. PMID: 34121075.
Boody BS, Rosenthal BR, Jenkins TJ, Patel AA, Savage JW, Hsu WK. The Effectiveness of Bioskills Training for Simulated Open Lumbar Laminectomy. Global Spine J. Vol. 7, Number 8. 2017.
Hsu WK, Jenkins TJ. Management of Lumbar Conditions in the Elite Athlete. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Vol. 25, Number 7. July 2017.
Boody BS, Rosenthal BD, Jenkins TJ, Patel AA, Savage JW, Hsu WK. Iatrogenic Flatback and Flatback Syndrome: Evaluation, Management, and Prevention. Clinical Spine Surgery. Vol 30, Number 4. May 2017.
Jenkins TJ, Boody BS, Rosenthal BD, Patel AA, Hsu WK. Intraoperative Neuromonitoring in Spine Surgery. Orthopaedic Knowledge Online Journal. Vol 14, Number 2. Feb 2016.
Mai HT, Mitchell SM, Jenkins TJ, Savage JW, Patel AA, Hsu WK. Accessibility of the Cervicothoracic Junction Through an Anterior Approach: An MRI-based Algorithm. Spine (Phila, PA 1976). 2016 Jan; 41 (1):69-73.
Boody BS, Jenkins TJ, Hashmi SZ, Hsu WK, Patel AA, Savage JW. Surgical Site Infections in Spinal Surgery. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2015 Dec: 28 (10): 352-62.
Mai HT, Mitchell SM, Hashmi SZ, Jenkins TJ, Patel AA, Hsu WK. Differences in bone mineral density of fixation points between lumbar cortical and traditional pedicle screws. Spine J. 2015 Dec 2.
Jenkins TJ, Mai HT, Burgmeier RJ, Savage JW, Patel AA, Hsu WK. The Triangle Model of Congenital Cervical Stenosis. Spine (Phila, PA 1976). 2015 Oct. 17.
Boody BS, Jenkins TJ, Maslak J, Hsu WK, Patel AA. Vertebral Osteomyelitis and Spinal Epidural Abscess: An Evidence-based Review. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2015 Jul;28(6):E316-27
Minhas SV, Chow I, Jenkins TJ, Dhingra B, Patel AA. Preoperative predictors of increased hospital costs in elective anterior cervical fusions: a single-institution analysis of 1,082 patients. Spine J. 2015 May 1;15(5):841-8.
Rosenthal BD, Maslak J, Jenkins TJ, Hsu WK, Patel AA. Evaluation of Complex Cervical Deformity: Diagnosis and Treatment. Contemporary Spine Surgery. In publication.
Gallizzi MA, Kuhns CA, Jenkins TJ, Pfeiffer FM. Is Polymethyl Methacrylate a Viable Option for Salvaging Lateral Mass Screw Failure in the Subaxial Cervical Spine? Global Spine Journal. Jan 2015.
Robertson DS, Jenkins T, Murtha YM, Della Rocca GJ, Volgas DA, Stannard JP, Crist BD. Effectiveness of Vitamin D Therapy in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients. J Orthop Trauma. 2015 Jun 11. PMID: 26087451
Kuhns CA, Cook CR, Dodam JR, Leach SB, Kuroki K, Jenkins TJ, Tallmage AM, Hoernschemeyer DG. Injectable Gelatin utilized as Hemostatic Agent to Stop Pedicle Bleeding in Long Deformity Surgeries – Does it Embolize? Spine. 2014 Dec 9
Bottenus BN, Kan P, Jenkins TJ, Ballard B, Rold TL, Barnes C, Cutler C, Hoffman TJ, Green M, Jurisson SS. Gold(III) Bis-Thiosemicarbazonato Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, Radiochemistry and X-ray Crystal Structure Analysis. (2010) Nuclear Medicine and Biology. Vol 37 Issue 1, 41-49.
Book Chapters
Jenkins TJ, Rhin J. "Surgical Treatment of Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures: Posterior Decompression and Instrumentation Techniques". Spine Surgery. Editor Vaccarro. Wolters Kluwer Health: Medical Practice. Accepted. In Publication
Jenkins TJ, Hsu WK. "Lumbar Disc Herniation in the Immature and Adult Athlete". Spine Injuries in Athletes. AAOS Publications. Accepted. In Publication
Jenkins TJ, King ECB, Grayhack JJ. "Scoliosis Terminology and Classification". The Atlas of Spinal Orthotics. Ed. Fisk J, Lonstein J, Malas B. Accepted. In Publication.
Jenkins TJ, Kannan AS, Hsu WK. "Neuromonitoring for Cervical Disk Surgery: Concepts and Controversies". Seminars in Spine Surgery. Oct. 2015. El Sevier.
Academic Presentations
Jenkins TJ, Hecht A, Sairyo S, Hsu WK. Evidence Based Management of Spine Conditions in the Elite Athlete. Instructional Course Lecture. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2018 Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
Jenkins TJ, Bhatt S, Singh K, Hsu WK, Patel AA. What is the Best Available Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Dysphagia in Cervical Spine Surgery?: A Comparison of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) & SWAL-QOL. Podium Presentation. Cervical Spine Research Society 2017 Annual Meeting. Hollywood, FL
Jenkins TJ, Nair R, Rosenthal BD, Mendoza M, Hsu WK, Patel AA, Savage JW. The Effect of Local Versus Intravenous Steroid on Dysphagia and Dysphonia Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): A Single-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Trial. Podium Presentation. North American Spine Society 2017 Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL
- Winner of Best Paper
Jenkins TJ, Nair R, Rosenthal BD, Mendoza M, Hsu WK, Patel AA, Savage JW. The Effect of Local Versus Intravenous Steroid on Dysphagia and Dysphonia Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): A Single-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Trial. Podium Presentation. Mid-America Orthopaedic Association 2017 Annual Meeting. Amelia Island, FL
- Winner of Carl L. Nelson, M.D. Physician in Training Award for Best Paper
Patel AA, Jenkins TJ, Nair R, Rosenthal BD, Mendoza M, Hsu WK, Savage JW. The Effect of Local Versus Intravenous Steroid on Dysphagia and Dysphonia Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): A Single-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Trial. Podium Presentation. The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons Annual Meeting 2017. Austin, TX.
Jenkins TJ, Nair R, Rosenthal BD, Mendoza M, Hsu WK, Patel AA, Savage JW. The Effect of Local Versus Intravenous Steroid on Dysphagia and Dysphonia Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): A Single-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Trial. Podium Presentation. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2017 Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.
Jenkins TJ, Nair R, Rosenthal BD, Mendoza M, Hsu WK, Patel AA, Savage JW. The Effect of Local Versus Intravenous Steroid on Dysphagia and Dysphonia Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): A Single-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Trial. Podium Presentation. Cervical Spine Research Society 2016 Annual Meeting. Toronto, Canada.
- First Place CSRS Resident/Fellow Research Award
Jenkins TJ, Rosenthal BD, Ranade A, Bhatt SA, Hsu WK, Patel AA. The Use of a Novel Ipad Application to Quantify Dysfunction in Cervical Myelopathy Patients. Podium Presentation. Cervical Spine Research Society 2016 Annual Meeting. Toronto, Canada.
Jenkins TJ, Mai HT, Burgmeier RJ, Savage JW, Patel AA, Hsu WK. The Triangle Model of Congenital Cervical Stenosis. Podium Presentation. North American Spine Society 2015 Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.
Jenkins TJ. Cervical Spondylosis and Radiculopathy. Chairman's Conference. Northwestern University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. February 23, 2016. Chicago, IL.
Jenkins TJ. Clinical Application of Lumbar Spine Pathology. Northwestern University Physical Therapy Lecture Series. January 26, 2016. Chicago, IL.
Jenkins TJ. ProDisc-C Total Disc Replacement Versus ACDF for Single-Level Symptomatic Cervical Disc Disease. Spine Journal Club. Northwestern University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. January 7, 2016. Chicago, IL.
Jenkins TJ. Orthosis Versus No Orthosis for the Treatment of Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures without Neurologic Injury. Spine Journal Club. Northwestern University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. January 15, 2015. Chicago, IL.
Abstracts & Poster Presentations
Jenkins TJ, Mai HT, Burgmeier RJ, Savage JW, Patel AA, Hsu WK. The Triangle Model of Congenital Cervical Stenosis. Poster Presentation. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2016 Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL.
Kuhns CA, Jenkins TJ, Pfeiffer F, Jeffries J; Choma T. Bailout Screw Placement in the Posterior Subaxial Cervical Spine—Is a Spinolaminar Screw a Viable Option? 2011 Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS) Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, Arizona, Dec. 8-10.
Crist BD, Jenkins TJ; Khazzam M., Murtha YM, Della Rocca GJ. Anteromedial versus Anterolateral Approaches for Pilon Fractures: a comparison of complications and functional outcomes. AO North America's meeting, '2012 Challenges in Fracture Care Across Disciplines', Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Feb 23-25.
Pfeiffer F, Kuhns CA, Jenkins TJ, Jeffries J; Choma T. Bailout Screw Placement Option for the Subaxial Cervical Spine (C3 to C6): A Biomechanical Study of Posterior Cervical Spinolaminar Screw Placement. Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) 2012 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, Feb 4-7.
Crist BD, Jenkins TJ, Khazzam MS, Murtha YM, Della Rocca GJ. Anteromedial versus Anterolateral Approaches for Pilon Fractures: a comparison of complications and functional outcomes. 2012 Mid-America Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting. April 18-22. Bonita Springs, FL. Abstract #117. Regional Meeting.
Pfeiffer F, Kuhns CA, Jenkins TJ, Jeffries J; Choma T. Bailout Screw Placement Option for the Subaxial Cervical Spine (C3 to C6): A Biomechanical Study of Posterior Cervical Spinolaminar Screw Placement. Poster #413 to be presentated at the 18th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST), in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 13-16, 2011.
Crist BD, Jenkins TJ, Della Rocca GJ, Khazzam M, Wade AM, Murtha YM. Functional outcomes of patients undergoing anterolateral versus anteromedial approaches of the ankle for pilon fractures. 2010 Health Sciences Research Day-University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Sherman, S., Jenkins, TJ., Martin, G., Cook, J., Stannard, J.. (2013, March). Cell Based Articular Cartilage Repair in the Knee: An Evidence Based Review. Poster presented at: 2013 AAOS Annual Meeting; Chicago, IL.
Crist, B., Jenkins, TJ., Khazzam, M., Murtha, Y., Della Rocca, G.. (2013, March). Anterolateral versus Anteromedial Surgical Approach for Pilon Fractures: a clinical and functional comparison. Oral Presentation presented at: 2013 AAOS Annual Meeting; Chicago, IL.