Department of Orthopedics News and Stories

Patient description: 44-year-old female had previously underwent a laminectomy for a disc herniation. Patient presented with new onset of bilateral radicular leg pain without an antecedent history of trauma. Initial radiographic imaging showed laminectomy defect with degeneration at L4-5 and L5-S1. She initially underwent non-operative care, including PT/OT, steroid dose pack, and home stretching exercises. Pain continued and an MRI was ordered which showed significant foraminal stenosis at L5-S1 with facet arthropathy and significant disc degeneration. At the L3-4 and L4-5 levels, she was found to have facet arthropathy with disc height and foraminal collapse and further lateral recess/foraminal stenosis.  

Medtronic | December 14, 2022

A 29-year-old non-smoking man with a BMI of 37 kg/m² and history of bipolar disease sustained a right subtrochanteric femur fracture and pseudoaneurysm of his right proximal femoral artery after a gunshot in December 2016.

Healio | December 16, 2021

The "Little House on the Prairie" star shared on Instagram that she underwent spinal surgery after years of injuries.

Good Morning America | November 23, 2020

This would not be the first time that Dr. Evalina Burger has hung out a sign that says “Medical Help Available.’’ Caring for people during crisis is ordinary for Burger, an orthopedic surgeon at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. She has repaired blast injuries for refugees fleeing war in Angola, performed the first surgeries for those maimed during Hurricane Katrina and now, during the global pandemic, she is in the operating room doing spine surgeries for those at risk of paralysis or deadly infections.

UCHealth | April 27, 2020

As medically necessary surgeries resume at UCHealth hospitals across Colorado, Lori Hopper is grateful, relieved and excited. For the past year, she has lived with excruciating pain in her lower back – but a medically necessary surgery scheduled Tuesday with renowned spine surgeon Dr. Evalina Burger is aimed to alleviate that pain. Now, Hopper can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. In recent months, Hopper has tried everything from chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, localized injections, and non-addictive medications. Nothing, however, has worked as a long-term solution.

UCHealth | April 27, 2020

As a way to limit patient risk of exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS expanded Medicare telehealth coverage, enabling beneficiaries to receive a wider range of health care services from their doctors without having to travel to a health care facility.

UCHealth | April 24, 2020

She joined the military to get into medicine. She took the hardest jobs. She led a surgery unit at a time when very few women were even performing surgery. She even overcame her own partial paralysis to become one of the nation’s foremost spinal surgeons. Meet Dr. Evalina Burger, Chair of Orthopedics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. This is Breakthrough.

CU Anschutz News | January 01, 2020

Evalina Burger, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora.

Becker's Spine Review | January 17, 2019

Spine doctors at University of Colorado are making more accurate decisions about spine surgery thanks to a new piece of imaging technology what it can do and helps plan a more successful surgery.

9News | June 28, 2016