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Elizabeth-Lord Photo

Specialty:
Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine
Department Affiliation:
Orthopaedic Surgery
Hospital Affiliation:
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
State License:
A127909
Phone:
310-319-3475
Health Plans:
Accepted Plans
  • About Me
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About Me
Dr. Elizabeth Lord is a fellowship trained spine surgeon and an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery. Dr. Lord specializes in complex spine conditions including adult and adolescent spinal deformity and scoliosis, reconstructive surgery of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, and primary and metastatic tumors of the spine. Dr. Lord received dual fellowship training in Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical spine surgery at the prestigious New York University Langone/Hospital for Joint Disease with an emphasis on complex and revision spine deformity, minimally invasive surgery, and robotic surgery. This dual training has provided her with a unique background to treat complex spine disorders.

Dr. Lord attended Harvard University for her undergraduate studies where she was a starting member of the nationally-ranked sailing team. Dr. Lord completed her premedical studies at Georgetown University and received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Lord completed her intern year of orthopaedic surgery at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Dr. Lord completed her orthopaedic surgery residency at UCLA in addition to a research fellowship focused on bony fusion in spine surgery. Dr. Lord's research includes bone biology and fusion, pediatric and adult spinal deformities, and innovation in spine surgery. She has authored numerous basic science and clinical articles in peer-reviewed journals. She has presented her research internationally and nationally. Dr. Lord serves as a reviewer for multiple spine journals. Dr. Lord is a member of the North American Spine Society where she sits on several committees, the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Lumbar Spine Research Society, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, and AOSpine.

Dr. Lord was born in Washington, DC and raised in Kenya, Egypt, and New Hampshire. She has a particular interest in cultural competency and welcomes patients from all backgrounds and cultures. Dr. Lord is passionate about working with patients to tailor a treatment plan to each individual's particular diagnosis and needs to create better health outcomes.
Links

uclahealth.org/ortho
uclahealth.org/spinecenter

Primary Office
Spine Center
1131 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 100
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Get Directions
View Map
Phone
310-319-3475
Fax
424-259-6930
Fellowship
Spine Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, 2018-2019
Residency
Orthopaedic Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, 2013-2018
Internship
Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 2012-2013
Degree
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, 2012
Interests
  • Achondroplasia

    Achondroplasia in Children

    Achondroplasia is a rare genetic (inherited) bone disorder. It was once called dwarfism. Achondroplasia causes the strong, flexible tissue called cartilage to not be made into bone as normal. This causes a series of signs, such as short arms and legs and a large head.
    Learn more >
  • Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

    Kyphosis

    A spine affected by kyphosis has a forward curvature of the back bones (vertebrae) in the upper back area, giving an abnormally rounded or humpback" appearance."
    Learn more >
  • Adolescent Scoliosis

    Kyphosis

    A spine affected by kyphosis has a forward curvature of the back bones (vertebrae) in the upper back area, giving an abnormally rounded or humpback" appearance."
    Learn more >
  • Adult Deformity Surgery
  • Adult Degenerative Scoliosis

    Scoliosis

    A normal spine, when viewed from behind, appears straight. However, a spine affected by scoliosis shows a side-to-side curvature, with the spine looking like an "S" or "C." The back bones (vertebrae) may also be rotated. This makes it look like the person is leaning to one side. 
    Learn more >
  • Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis

    Scoliosis

    A normal spine, when viewed from behind, appears straight. However, a spine affected by scoliosis shows a side-to-side curvature, with the spine looking like an "S" or "C." The back bones (vertebrae) may also be rotated. This makes it look like the person is leaning to one side. 
    Learn more >
  • Arthroscopy

    Arthroscopy

    An arthroscope is a small, tube shaped instrument that is used to look inside a joint. Orthopedic surgeons use arthroscopy to diagnose and treat joint problems. Originally, arthroscopy was used mainly for planning a standard open surgery. But with new tools and advanced surgical methods, many conditions can also be treated using an arthroscope.
    Learn more >
  • Artificial Disc
  • Back Surgery

    Laminectomy

    Laminectomy is a type of surgery in which a surgeon removes part or all of the vertebral bone (lamina). This helps relieve compression of the spinal cord or the nerve roots that may be caused by injury, herniated disk, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the canal), or tumors.
    Learn more >
  • BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Protein)
  • Cervical Deformity

    Cervical Spondylosis

    Cervical spondylosis is a type of degenerative disease that affects your neck. Normally, soft disks between the bones in your spine (called vertebrae) provide cushioning. With cervical spondylosis, these disks become squeezed (compressed). 
    Learn more >
  • Cervical Radiculopathy

    Pinched Nerve

    Radiculopathy, commonly called pinched nerve, is most likely to occur in your lower back (lumbar radiculopathy), but it can also affect your neck (cervical radiculopathy) or other parts of your spinal cord.  
    Learn more >
  • Cervical Spine

    Cervical Spondylosis

    Cervical spondylosis is a type of degenerative disease that affects your neck. Normally, soft disks between the bones in your spine (called vertebrae) provide cushioning. With cervical spondylosis, these disks become squeezed (compressed). 
    Learn more >
  • Clinical Trials
  • Congenital Spinal Abnormality/Anomaly
  • Disc Replacement
  • Discectomies
  • Disk Degeneration
  • Disk Herniation

    Lumbar Disk Disease (Herniated Disk)

    Lumbar disk disease occurs when the spongy disks between the vertebrae bulge out or rupture. Lumbar disk disease is caused by a change in the structure of the normal disk. Most of the time, disk disease happens as a result of aging and the normal break down that occurs within the disk. 
    Learn more >
  • Failed Back Syndrome
  • Foraminotomy

    Foraminotomy

    A foraminotomy is a surgical procedure. It enlarges the area around one of the compressed nerves in your spinal column. Here's what you need to know about the procedure.
    Learn more >
  • Fracture of Spine
  • Instability-Spine
  • Kyphosis

    Kyphosis

    A spine affected by kyphosis has a forward curvature of the back bones (vertebrae) in the upper back area, giving an abnormally rounded or humpback" appearance."
    Learn more >
  • Kyphotic Deformity
  • Laminectomy

    Laminectomy

    Laminectomy is a type of surgery in which a surgeon removes part or all of the vertebral bone (lamina). This helps relieve compression of the spinal cord or the nerve roots that may be caused by injury, herniated disk, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the canal), or tumors.
    Learn more >
  • Laminoplasty
  • Lordosis

    Lordosis in Children

    Lordosis is a deformity of the backbone (spine). It’s when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) in the lower back curve inward more than normal. A child with lordosis has a swayback appearance.
    Learn more >
  • Lumbar Instability

    Lumbar Strain

    A lumbar strain is an injury to the lower back. This results in damaged tendons and muscles that can spasm and feel sore. The lumbar vertebra make up the section of the spine in your lower back.
    Learn more >
  • Lumbar Radiculopathy

    Pinched Nerve

    Radiculopathy, commonly called pinched nerve, is most likely to occur in your lower back (lumbar radiculopathy), but it can also affect your neck (cervical radiculopathy) or other parts of your spinal cord.  
    Learn more >
  • Lumbar Tumor Surgery
  • Metabolic Disease to bone/spine
  • Microdiscectomy
  • Microsurgery
  • Microsurgical Techniques
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery

    Methods of Surgery

    An "open" surgery means cutting the skin and tissues so that the surgeon has a full view of the structures or organs involved. Minimally invasive surgery is a relatively new approach that allows the patient to recuperate faster with less pain. Not all conditions are suitable for this type of surgery.
    Learn more >
  • Multi Trauma
  • Myelopathy
  • Nerve Decompression
  • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
  • Oncology of Spine
  • Osteoporosis

    Osteoporosis

    Osteoporosis is a disease that causes weak, thinning bones. This leaves the bones at greater risk of breaking. The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists.
    Learn more >
  • Osteotomy
  • Pars Defect of Lumbar Spine
  • Pars Defect Repair
  • Pediatric Scoliosis

    Scoliosis in Children

    Scoliosis is a deformity of the backbone (spine). A normal spine appears straight when looked at from behind. But a child with scoliosis has a spine with an S or C shape. The child may look like he or she is leaning to one side.
    Learn more >
  • Pediatric Spine
  • Post Laminectomy Spine Pain Syndrome
  • Posterior Longitudinal Ossification Ligament
  • Radiculitis
  • Radiculopathy

    Pinched Nerve

    Radiculopathy, commonly called pinched nerve, is most likely to occur in your lower back (lumbar radiculopathy), but it can also affect your neck (cervical radiculopathy) or other parts of your spinal cord.  
    Learn more >
  • Root Compression

    Pinched Nerve

    Radiculopathy, commonly called pinched nerve, is most likely to occur in your lower back (lumbar radiculopathy), but it can also affect your neck (cervical radiculopathy) or other parts of your spinal cord.  
    Learn more >
  • Sacroiliac Joint Pain

    Therapeutic Pain Blocks

    If you don't get relief from standard pain relievers, you doctor may suggest injecting pain-relieving medicine into the site of the affected nerve. This injection will block the pain signals the nerve would otherwise send to your brain. If your brain doesn't receive this message of alarm, you won't feel the pain you would normally feel.
    Learn more >
  • Scheuermann´s Kyphosis
  • Sciatica

    Sciatica

    Sciatica, also called lumbar radiculopathy, is a pain that originates along your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The pain extends from the back of your pelvis down the back of your thigh.
    Learn more >
  • Scoliosis / Kyphosis
  • Severe Kyphotic Deformities
  • Severe Lordotic Deformities
  • Spinal Compression Fracture & Fusion

    Compression Fracture

    A compression fracture is a type of break in the bones in your back that stack up to form your spine. A compression fracture can cause back pain, limited movement, a decrease in height, and a stopped over posture. It often develops as a result of osteoporosis.
    Learn more >
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Deformity
  • Spinal Fusion

    Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion

    Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure to join 2 or more bones of your spine together permanently. A minimally invasive spinal fusion uses a smaller cut (incision) than a traditional spinal fusion surgery.
    Learn more >
  • Spinal Intervention
  • Spinal Stenosis

    What Is Spinal Stenosis?

    Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and pinches the nerves. This results in back and leg pain. Surgical treatment for spinal stenosis is considered after nonsurgical remedies have not improved symptoms, and when the benefits of surgery are greater than the potential risks.
    Learn more >
  • Spinal Tumor

    Spinal Cord Tumor Overview

    Spinal cord tumors are fairly uncommon. It's much more common to develop a brain tumor than a tumor on the spinal cord. A spinal cord tumor may form inside the spinal cord itself or around the bones that make up the spine.
    Learn more >
  • Spinal Vascular Disease
  • Spine

    Anatomy of the Spine

    Your backbone, also called the vertebral column, is made up of 33 vertebrae separated by spongy disks.
    Learn more >
  • Spine / Back Surgery
  • Spine Minimally Invasive

    Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

    Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is surgery on the bones of your spine (backbone). It uses smaller incisions than standard surgery and causes less pain and faster recovery.
    Learn more >
  • Spine Surgery
  • Spine Surgery Instrumentation
  • Spine Trauma (Complex & Fresh)

    Acute Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

    Car accidents, falls, and other injuries are a common cause of acute spinal cord injury. Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic injury that bruises, partially or completely tears the spinal cord. SCI is a common cause of permanent disability and death in children and adults.
    Learn more >
  • Spondylolisthesis

    Overuse Injuries

    Detailed information on overuse injuries in children, including jumper's knee, patellar tendonitis, little leaguers' elbow, little leaguers' shoulder, osteochondritis dissecans, Sever's disease, shin splints, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease, spondylolisthesis, and spondylolysis
    Learn more >
  • Spondylolisthesis/Spondylolysis

    Overuse Injuries

    Detailed information on overuse injuries in children, including jumper's knee, patellar tendonitis, little leaguers' elbow, little leaguers' shoulder, osteochondritis dissecans, Sever's disease, shin splints, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease, spondylolisthesis, and spondylolysis
    Learn more >
  • Sports Spine Injury Disorder
  • Synovial Cyst

    Baker Cyst

    A Baker cyst (popliteal cyst) is a fluid-filled sac that forms behind the knee.
    Learn more >
  • Thoracic Spine and Disks

    Anatomy of the Spine

    Your backbone, also called the vertebral column, is made up of 33 vertebrae separated by spongy disks.
    Learn more >
  • Trauma

    Trauma

    Detailed information on neurological trauma in children
    Learn more >
  • Tumor
  • Unstable Spine
Publications

Link to my PubMed publications >

1. Tanjaya J, Lord EL, Wang C, Zhang Y, Kim JK, Nguyen A, Baik L, Pan HC, Chen E, Kwak JH, Zhang X, Wu B, Soo C, Ting K. The Effects of Systemic Therapy of PEGylated NEL-Like Protein 1 (NELL-1) on Fracture Healing in Mice. Am J Pathol. 2018 Mar;188(3):715-727. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.11.018. Epub 2017 Dec 30.

2. Ajiboye RM, Park HY, Cohen JR, Vellios EE, Lord EL, Ashana AO, Buser Z, Wang JC. Demographic Trends in the Use of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring for Scoliosis Surgery in the United States. Int J Spine Surg. 2017 Dec 5; 11:33. doi: 10.14444/4033. eCollection 2017.

3. Alobaidaan R, Cohen JR, Lord EL, Buser Z, Yoon ST, Youssef JA, Park JB, Brodke DS, Wang JC, Meisel HJ. Complication rates in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery (PLIF) with human bone morphogenetic protein 2. Global Spine J. 2017 Dec;7(8):770-773. doi: 10.1177/2192568217696695. Epub 2017 May 16.

4. Zoller SD, Cao LA, Smith RA, Sheppard W, Lord EL, Hamad CD, Ghodasra JH, Lee C, Jeffcoat D. Staged reconstruction of diaphyseal fractures with segmental defects: Surgical and patient-reported outcomes. Injury. 2017 Oct;48(10):2248-2252. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.06.018. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

5. Lord EL, Cohen JR, Buser Z, Meisel HJ, Brodke DS, Yoon ST, Youssef JA, Wang JC, Park JB. Trends, costs and complications of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with and without bone morphogenetic protein in the United States Medicare population. Accepted to Global Spine Journal August 2016.

6. Hayashi T, Lord EL, Suzuki A, Takahashi S, Scott TP, Phan K, Tian H, Daubs MD, Shiba K, Wang JC. A comparison of commercially available demineralized bone matrices with and without human mesenchymal stem cells in a rodent spinal fusion model. J Neurosurg Spine. 2016 Jul;25(1):133-7. doi: 10.3171/2015.12. SPINE15737.

7. Takahashi S, Lord EL, Hayashi T, Cohen JR, Lao L, Yao Q, Suzuki A, Nakamura H, Wang JC. Radiologic Factors Associated With the Dynamic Change of Dural Sac Diameter in Lumbar Spine: A Kinematic MRI Study. Clin Spine Surg. 2016 Jun 27. [Epub ahead of print] DOI: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000403

8. Wang JC, Buser Z, Fish D, Lord EL, Roe AK, Chatterjee D, Gee EL, Mayer EN, Yanez MY, McBride OJ, Cha PI, Arnold PM, Fehlings MG, Mroz TE, Daniel Riew KD. Intra-operative Death during Cervical Spinal Surgery: A Retrospective Multi-center Study. Accepted to Global Spine Journal May 2016.

9. Pourtaheri S, Issa K, Stewart T, Shafa E, Ajiboye R, Buerba RA, Lord E, Hwang K, Mangels D, Emami A. Comparison of Instrumented and Noninstrumented Surgical Treatment of Severe Vertebral Osteomyelitis. Orthopedics. 2016 May 1;39(3):e504-8. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20160427-07. Epub 2016 May 2.

10. Ajiboye RM, D'Oro A, Ashana AO, Buerba RA, Lord EL, Buser Z, Wang JC, Pourtaheri S. The Routine Use of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring During ACDFs for the Treatment of Spondylotic Myelopathy and Radiculopathy is Questionable: A Review of 15395 Cases. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2016 Apr 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Awards

AAOS/OREF/ORS Clinician Scholar Career Development Program (CSCDP), Rosemont, IL, (Selected by the North American Spine Society (NASS)) 2019
SRS North American Meeting Scholarship for Residents and Fellows, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2019
Ruth Jackson Travel Grant, Orlando, FL 2016
Dr. Joanne L.J. Cheek Scholarship 2010
Weinstein Fellowship 2009
Lisle C. Carter Scholarship 2008
Harlem Hospital Centennial Scholarship 2008

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