Biographical Sketch
Robert McLain, MD, is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon with expertise in adult and pediatric spinal deformities, low back pain, infections, trauma, and tumors of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Recruited to the Clinic in 1997, Dr. McLain is trained in both microsurgical and minimally invasive techniques. Before coming to Cleveland Clinic, Dr. McLain was Director of the Spine Care Center at the University of California, Davis, and Chairman of the Back and Neck Subcommittee for the Musculoskeletal Center of Excellence at UC Davis.
In addition to his busy clinical practice, Dr. McLain is recognized as one of the outstanding researchers in the area of spinal disease and reconstruction, and directs the Spine Research Program at Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. McLain has written over 140 articles for scientific journals and textbooks, and he serves as an Associate Editor for Spine, the international journal for spine surgery. In 1992 he was awarded the North American Traveling Fellowship, and in 1995 he received the prestigious American-British-Canadian Exchange Fellowship of the American Orthopaedic Association.
Dr. McLain is a member of the North American Spine Society, the Scoliosis Research Society, the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Specialty Interests
d back surgery and care of orthopaedic and spinal fractures, surgery for disorders of the neck, surgery of the adult and pediatric spine, hip and knee replacement, hip and knee surgery, hip and knee total joint replacement revisions and infections, Hip joint replacement
Innovations & Patents
Provisional Patent: Composite Hydrogel Artificial Disc: A Nucleus Pulposis Prosthesis
The invention is a polymer composite nucleus pulposis replacement for the human intervertebral disc, consisting of a flexible foam scaffold impregnated with a more viscous hydrophilic polymer. The foam scaffold provides a three dimensional structure that conforms to the area within the operated intervertebral disc which is intended to be filled by hydrophilic matrix. Patent Awarded 2003
Provisional Patent: 60/784,232: Cannulated Probe for Transpedicular Aspiration of Autologous Osteoprogenitor Stem Cells
A unique probe design allows transpedicular aspiration of marrow elements including osteoprogenitor stem cells used in spine fusion augmentation. The probe will simultaneously create a pilot hole for pedicle screw instrumentation and provide access to the rich marrow beds contained within the vertebral bodies.
Provisional Patent: Unilateral Anterior Cervical Plate.
Industry Relationships
Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate
with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries
to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide
medical education about recent trends. The
collaborations are reviewed as part of the Cleveland
Clinic’s procedures. The Cleveland Clinic publicly
discloses payments to its physicians and scientists
for speaking and consulting of
$5,000 or more per year, and any equity, royalties,
and fiduciary relationships in companies with which
they collaborate. In publicly disclosing this
information, the Cleveland Clinic tries to provide
information as accurately as possible about its
doctors’ connections with industry and those of their
immediate family members. As of 9/5/2008, Dr.
McLain has reported the financial relationships
with the companies listed below. Patients should feel
free to contact their doctor about any of the
relationships and how the relationships are overseen
by the Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about the
Cleveland Clinic’s policies on collaborations with
industry and innovation management, go to
our Integrity in Innovation page.
Consulting. Dr. McLain receives fees of $5,000 or more per year as a paid consultant or speaker for the following companies:
Stryker Spine
