Posts by Daniel G. Tobert, MD
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Sociodemographic Factors Influence Whether Orthopedic Surgery Patients Complete PROMs
Massachusetts General Hospital researchers found that 60% of patients in orthopedic surgery clinics, especially racial/ethnic minorities and others who commonly face disparities in care, did not complete patient-reported outcome measures. This variability could skew the results of clinical outcomes research.
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Adding High-Dose Radiation to Surgery Confers Survival Benefit in Patients With Chordoma
Daniel G. Tobert, MD, Joseph H. Schwab, MD, MS, and colleagues demonstrated that adding photon and/or proton radiation therapy (≥70 Gy) to surgical excision of chordoma was associated with 72% less risk of death and 77% less risk of local recurrence within five years.
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Osteoporosis Is Underrecognized, Undertreated Among Adults with Spinal Deformity Undergoing Long Fusion
In a retrospective study, spinal surgeons from Massachusetts General Hospital determined that one-third of adults scheduled for long thoracolumbar spinal fusions had osteoporosis before surgery, with two-thirds of those patients receiving no pharmacologic treatment.
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Adjustment for Patient-related Factors Needed When Evaluating Spine Surgeon Performance
Mass General researchers have demonstrated that when evaluating patient improvement after lumbar decompression on an individual surgeon basis, patient-related risk factors must be considered.
Biography
Dr. Dan Tobert is a spine surgeon who specializes in the treatment of adult spinal disorders. His training enables him to care for patients with cervical, thoracic or lumbosacral spine issues that arise from degenerative, deformity, traumatic or neoplastic causes. His primary goal is to provide excellent patient care informed by the best available evidence.
Dr. Tobert is a board-eligible, fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. He received a BS degree from Hope College, majoring in Chemistry. He subsequently received a MD degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He trained in orthopaedic surgery at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program before undergoing sub-specialization training in spine surgery at the University of Utah. This fellowship with a renowned group of spine surgeons specifically focused on surgical management of complex spinal disorders.
Dr. Tobert is actively engaged in research efforts to improve patient care and is a member of numerous academic spine societies. He believes clinical research and basic science form a foundation for empathic and individualized patient care.