R. Kirk Owens
Papers
2
Total Citations
22
H-Index
1
About
R. Kirk Owens is a leading spine surgeon and researcher whose work focuses on advancing minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques for lumbar fusion. His primary research areas include transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), midline lumbar interbody fusion (MIDLIF), and robotic-assisted spinal surgery. Owens is best known for his landmark 2020 study, which provided the first episode-of-care propensity-matched comparison of open traditional TLIF, MIDLIF, and robot-assisted MIDLIF—a work that has garnered 21 citations and set a new standard for evaluating surgical outcomes. This contribution demonstrated that robot-assisted MIDLIF can reduce muscle dissection and potentially accelerate recovery, directly influencing modern surgical practice. His ongoing investigations, including a 2024 study comparing no-tap versus tapping techniques for robotic cortical bone trajectory screw insertion, continue to refine surgical precision and safety. With a citation count reflecting growing influence, Owens’s work bridges the gap between traditional open surgery and cutting-edge robotics, offering spine surgeons evidence-based pathways to improve patient outcomes. His research is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of minimally invasive spine surgery.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2