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Specialty:: Neurological Surgery
Department Affiliation:: Neurosurgery
Hospital Affiliation:: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica
State License:: A91813
Health Plans:: Accepted Plans

About Me

Membership, Medical Organizations:

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of Spine and Peripheral Nerves
AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma & Critical Care
Society for Neuroscience

Links

Primary Office: UCLA Spine Center
Primary Address: 1131 Wilshire Blvd
Suite 100
Santa Monica, California 90401
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Phone: 310-319-3475
Secondary Office: Neurosurgery
Secondary Address: 300 Stein Plaza
Suite 420
Los Angeles, California 90095
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Phone: 310-825-5111
Fax: 310-825-7245

Medical Board Certifications: Neurological Surgery, American Board of Neurological Surgery, 2014
Fellowship: Neurological Surgery, Semmes-Murphey Neurologic & Spine Institute , 2009-2010
Residency: Neurological Surgery, UCSF Department of Neurology, 2004-2009
Internship: Surgery, UCSF Department of Surgery, 2003-2004
Degree: UC San Diego School of Medicine, MD, 2003
University of California, San Diego-Neurosciences Graduate Program , PhD, 2001

Interests

Adult Tethered Cord
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Artificial Disk
Back Surgery
Basilar Invagination
BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Protein)
Bone Protein Implant
Brachial Plexus
Brain Injury
Brain Stem Tumors
Cavernous Angiomas
Cervical Spine
Chiari Malformation
Complex Trauma
Congenital Disorders of the Brain and Spine
Craniocervical Junction Decompression & Fusion
Discogram
Disk Degeneration
Disk Herniation
Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Facet Joint Syndrome
Fracture of Spine
General Neurosurgery
Hydrocephalus
Kyphoplasty / Vertebroplasty
Laminectomy
Lipoma
Lumbar Tumor Surgery
Magnetic Resonance Neurography
Metabolic Bone Disease
Microsurgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Multi Trauma
Myelopathy
Neck Pain
Nerve Tumor
Neuro Endoscopy
Nonunion Trauma
Oncology
Osteoporosis
Pars Defect of Lumbar Spine
Pars Defect Repair
Peripheral Nerve
Platybasia
Radiculopathy
Re-open Surgery
Re-operation Surgery
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sacroiliac Joint Fusion
Sacroiliac Joint Pain
Schwannoma
Sciatica
Scoliosis / Kyphosis
Spina Bifida
Spinal Compression Fracture & Fusion
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Stimulators
Spinal Cord Tumors
Spinal Fusion
Spinal Infections
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal Tumor
Spine
Spine / Back Surgery
Spine Minimally Invasive
Spine Surgery Instrumentation
Spine Trauma (Complex & Fresh)
Spondylolisthesis/Spondylolysis
Sports Spine Injury Disorder
Synovial Cyst
Syringomyelia
Thoracic Spine and Disks
Trauma
Unstable Spine
Vertebroplasty

Research Interests: Daniel C. Lu is a member of the Comprehensive Spine Center in Santa Monica. Dr. Lu's clinical expertise involves minimally invasive techniques in the surgical management of degenerative, traumatic, and neoplastic spinal disorders. As the Director of the Neuroplasticity and Repair Laboratory and the UCLA Neuromotor Recovery and Rehabilitation Center, his research efforts are focused on modulating the neuronal circuitry and networks in the treatment of central nervous system disorders with the ultimate goal of restoring lost function.
Publications: Link to Dr. Lu's PubMed publications

Peer- Reviewed Publications

Au Yong N., Lu D.C. Neuromodulation of lumbar spinal locomotor circuit. Neurosurg Clin N Am 25: 15-23 (2014).
Buchanan C.C., Lu D.C., Buchanan C., Tran T.T. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma and spinal cord infarction following orthotopic liver transplantation: Case report and review of the literature. Sug Neurol Int 4: S359-61 (2013).
Saigal R., Lu D.C., Deng D.Y., Chou D. Conversion to high to mid-sacral amputation via S2 nerve preservation during partial S2 sacrectomy for chordoma. J. Neurosug Spine: 421-9 (2014).
Kimball J., Kusnezov N.A., Pezeshkian P., Lu D.C. Minimally invasive surgical decompression for lumbar metastases. Surg Neurol Int. 4: 78 (2013).
Kimball J., Yew A., Getachew R., Lu D.C. Minimally invasive tubular surgery for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Neurosurg Focus 35: Video19 (2013).
Yew A., Kimball J., Pezeshkian P., Lu D.C. Minimally invasive palliative resection of lumbar epidural metastasis. Neurosurg Focus 35: Video 18 (2013).
Kimball J., Yew A., Lu D.C. Minimally invasive surgery for lumbar microdiscectomy. Neurosurg Focus 35: Video 15 (2013).
Li C.H., Yew A.Y., Lu D.C. Migration of traumatic intracranial SDH to lumbar spine causing radiculopathy. Surg Neurol Int 4:81 (2013).
Lee S.I, Ghasemzadeh H., Mortazavi B.J., Yew A., Getachew R., Razaghy M., Ghalehsari N., Paak B.H., Garst J.H., Espinal M., Kimball J., Lu D.C., Sarrafzadeh M. Objective assessment of overexcited hand movements using a lightweight sensory device. Paper #77. IEEE Body Sensor Network Conference (2013).
Li C.H., Yew A.Y., Kimball J.A., McBride D.Q., Wang J.C., Lu D.C. Comparison of operating field sterility in open versus minimally invasive microdiscectomies of the lumbar spine. Surg Neurol Int 4:S295-8 (2013).
Yew A., Kimball, J., Lu D.C. Surgical seroma formation following posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion without rhBMP-2. J Neurosurg Spine Jul 5 (2013).
Huang A.P., Chen C.M., Lai H.S., Chou C.C., Lu D.C., Kuo L.T., Chuang H.Y., Tsai, J.C. The posterior transthecal approach for repair of cauda equine fibers and ventral dural laceration: a novel surgical technique. Spine (2013).
Kusnezov N.A., Velani S.A., Lu D.C. Cerebrospinal fluid leak secondary to chiropractic manipulation. Surg Neurol Int. 4: S118-20 (2013).
Lu D.C., Tumialan L.M., Chou D. Multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with and without rhBMP-2: a comparison of dysphagia rates and outcomes in 150 patients. J Neurosurg Spine 18: 43-9 (2012).
Yang I., Nagasawa D.T., Kim W., Spasic M., Trang A., Lu D.C., Martin N.A. Chromosomal anomalies and prognostic markers for intracranial and spinal ependymomas. J Clin Neurosci 19: 779-85 (2012).
Lu D.C., Zador Z., Yao J., Fazlollahi F., Manley G.T. Aquaporin-4 reduces post-traumatic seizure susceptibility by promoting astrocytic glial scar formation in mice. J Neurotrauma (2011).
Rodriguez-Hernandez A., Lu D.C., Meric S., Lawton M.T. Aneurysms associated with non-moyamoya collateral arterial networks: report of three cases and review of literature. Neurosurg Rev. 34: 517-22 (2011).
Nagasawa D.T., Smith Z.A., Cremer N., Fong C. Lu D.C., Yang I. Complications associated with the treatment for spinal ependymomas. Neurosurg Focus. 31: E13 (2011).
Lu D.C., Chou D., Mummaneni P.V. A comparison of mini-open and open approaches for resection of thoracolumbar intradural spinal tumors. J Neurosurg Spine Mar 11 (2011).
Lau D., Lee J.G., Han S.J., Lu D.C., Chou D. Complications and perioperative factors associated with learning the technique of minimally invasive transforaminal interbody fusion (TLIF). J Clin Neurosci. 18: Feb 23 (2011).
Han S.J., Lau D., Lu D.C., Chou D. Anterior thoracolumbar corpectomies: apporach morbidity with and without an access surgeon Feb 4 (2011).
Lu D.C., Dhall S.S., Mummaneni P.V. The transpinous mini-open approach for resection of intradural spinal neoplasms: cadaveric feasibility study and report of 3 clinical cases. World Neurosurg 74: 195-199 (2010).
Clark A.J., Lu D.C., Richardson R.M., Tihan T., Parsa A.T., Chou D., Barbaro N.M., Kunwar S., Weinstein P.R., Lawton M.T., Berger M.S., McDermott M.W. Surgical technique of temporary arterial occlusion in the operative management of spinal hemangioblastomas. World Neurosurg 74: 200-205 (2010).
Chou D.C., Lu D.C. Mini-open transpedicular corpectomies with expandable cage reconstruction. J Neurosurg Spine (2010).
Lu D.C., Zador Z., Mummaneni P.V., Lawton M.T. Rotational vertebral artery occlusion-series of 9 cases. Neurosurgery 67: 1066-72 (2010).
Lu D.C., Lawton M.T. Clinical presentation and surgical management of intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations. Neurosurg Focus 29: E12 (2010).
Lau D., Han S.J., Lee J.G., Lu D.C., Chou D. Minimally invasive compared to open microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation. J Clin Neurosci (2010).
Lu D.C., Lau D., Lee J.G., Chou D. The transpedicular approach versus the anterior approach: an analysis of 80 thoracolumbar corpectomies. JNS Spine 12: 583-91 (2010).
Mummaneni P., Lu D.C., Dhall, S., Mummaneni V., Chou D. C1 Lateral Mass Fixation: A comparison of ccnstructs. Neurosurgery 66, 153-60 (2010).
Lu D.C., Roeser A.C., Mummaneni V.P., Mummaneni P. Nuances of occipitocervical fixation. Neurosurgery 66, 141-6 (2010).
Wang V., Chin C., Lu D.C., Smith J.S., Chou D. Free-hand thoracic pedicle screw placed by neurosurgery residents: a CT analysis. Eur Spine J (2010).
Lu D.C., Wang V., Chou D. The use of allograft or autograft and expandable titanium cages for the treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis. Neurosurgery 64:122-30 (2009).
Zador Z., Lu D.C., Arnold C.M., Lawton M.T. Deep bypasses to the distal posterior circulation: anatomical and clinical comparison of pretemporal and subtemporal approaches. Neurosurgery 66, 92-100 (2010).
Lu D.C., Gupta N., Mummaneni P. Minimally invasive decompression for rotational vertebral artery occlusion. J Neurosurg Peds 4, 191-195 (2009).
Chou D., Eltgroth M., Yang I., Lu D.C., Manley G. Rib head disarticulation for multilevel transpedicular thoracic corpectomies and exapandable cage reconstruction. Neurol India 57, 469-473 (2009).
Aryan H.E., Newman C.B., Lu D.C., Hu S.S., Tay B.K., Bradford D.S., Puttlitz C.M., Ames C.P. Relaxation of forces needed to distract cervical vertebrae after discectomy. J Spinal Disord Tech 22, 100-104 (2009).
Lu D.C., Dhall S.S., Mummaneni P. Mini-open removal of extradural foraminal tumor of the lumbar spine. J Neurosurg Spine 10, 46-50 (2009).
Lawton M.T., Lu D.C., Zodor Z. Current strategies for complex aneurysms using intracranial bypass and reconstructive techniques. Jap J Neurosurg 17: 601-611 (2008).
Lu D.C., Zheng H., Verkman A.S. Impaired olfaction in mice lacking aquaporin-4 water channels. FASEB J. 22, 3216-23 (2008).

In The News

Experimental implant shows promise for restoring voluntary movement after spinal cord injury
Spinal stimulator recaptures hand motion, strength after cervical spinal cord injury
Numerous news outlets reported Dec. 13 on the story of a young San Dimas man who broke his neck five years ago and has regained some hand control due to an experimental device implanted In his spine by Dr. Daniel Lu, an associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Coverage included Univision (New York), WCBS-TV (New York), KTLA-TV (Los Angeles), KMEX-TV (Los Angeles), WJBK-TV (Detroit), KSWB-TV (San Diego), STAT News, the U.K.’s Daily Mail, United Press International, Becker’s Spine Review, Spain’s Canarias 7, the Netherlands’ RTL News, Futurism and Mass Device. Additional coverage included a Jan. 4 story in Healthline and a Jan. 2 feature on Brian in LaVerne Online.
Becker's Spine Review: Spinal Cord Injury Research (Becker's Spine Review)
A conversation with Dr. Lu (Healio - Spine Surgery)

Awards

H and H Lee Surgical Research Scholar Award 2012
Larson Research Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons 2012
Oppenheimer Program Seed Award 2012
Outcomes Research Award, AANS/CNS Joint Section of Spine and Peripheral Nerves 2010
Edwin Boldrey Award, San Francisco Neurological Society 2009
Synthes Craniofacial and Brain Trauma Research Award, AANS Section in Trauma 2009
Clinical Trial Proposal Award, AANS/CNS Joint Section of Spine and Peripheral Nerves 2008
Meyerson-Shoofey Spine Research Award 2008
UCSF Clinical Trials Research Funding Program 2008

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