Dr. John Thalgott, MD

Expert Publications

• Anterior interbody fusion of the cervical spine with coralline hydroxyapatite.
• Anterior lumbar interbody fusion with processed sea coral (coralline hydroxyapatite) as part of a circumferential fusion.
• Anterior lumbar interbody fusion with titanium mesh cages, coralline hydroxyapatite, and demineralized bone matrix as part of a circumferential fusion.
• Instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion using coralline hydroxyapatite with or without demineralized bone matrix, as an adjunct to autologous bone.
• Single stage anterior cervical reconstruction with titanium mesh cages, local bone graft, and anterior plating.
• A prospective, randomized, blinded, single-site study to evaluate the clinical and radiographic differences between frozen and freeze-dried allograft when used as part of a circumferential anterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure.
• Improved outcome with early fixation of skeletally unstable pelvic fractures.
• Application and results of the AO internal fixation system in nontraumatic
• Odontoid fractures treated by anterior odontoid screw fixation.
• [A new minimally invasive approach to interior lumbal spine fusion.].
• Internal spinal skeletal fixation system.
• The contoured anterior spinal plate system (CASP). Indications, techniques, and results.

Media Releases

Get to know Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. John Thalgott, who serves patients in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Proudly serving Nevada by defining quality care since 1986, Dr. Thalgott is the Director of The Center for Disease and Surgery of the Spine. He is the most experienced spine surgeon in Las Vegas & all of Nevada.

Specializing in minimally invasive reconstruction of the aging spine, he is trained in general spinal surgery, adult reconstructive spinal surgery, as well as spinal trauma and deformity surgery. From a practical standpoint, he views lumbar reconstructive and cervical reconstructive surgery as a way to decrease pain, increase functionality, and let the patient begin to exercise. 

“It is the rehabilitation and exercise that restores health, functionality, sense of well-being, and decreased pain that is the most successful and the most important part of cervical or lumbar surgery. It is imperative that patients become “health-minded”. This means weight loss using a high protein diet, cardiac and pulmonary conditioning, strengthening of the extremity musculature and, most importantly, strengthening of the cord. It is important that each one of the patients postoperatively, and even preoperatively, rehabilitate themselves to the maximum possible” as stated by the doctor, whose excellent surgical outcomes are documented in national and local databases.

Known for his worldwide reputation, Dr. Thalgott is the Clinical Director of the International Spinal Development & Research Foundation, based in Las Vegas. The non-profit Foundation’s current research encompasses implants and instrumentation, the use of bone graft substitutes and molecules to enhance fusion, spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain, and a wide variety of minimally invasive approaches to spinal surgery. These approaches have been shown to reduce hospital stays and accelerate rehabilitation and return to work status in preliminary studies.

The doctor’s acclaimed career in medicine began after he earned his medical degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 1979. He then went on to perform his residency in orthopedic surgery at LAC+USC Medical Center, followed by his fellowship in spine trauma and deformity surgery at Northwestern University.

In practice for over four decades, he is board-certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS). The ABOS is an organization with the goal of establishing educational and professional standards for orthopedic residents and surgeons as well as evaluating the qualifications and competence of orthopedic surgeons.

Recognized as an innovator and inventor, Dr. Thalgott has developed scoliosis technology, lumbar reconstructive technology, and many other procedures. More specifically, he developed a gasless endoscopic approach to the lumbar spine which allows for reliable access to the anterior column up to L2.

Orthopedic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and non-surgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.

An authority in his field, Dr. Thalgott has been an invited guest lecturer at multiple sites throughout the world including: San Filippo Neri Hospital (Italy), Vatican Hospital (Italy), Beijing No. 3 University Hospital and Rui Jin Hospital (China), the Association of Spine Surgeons of India (India), the Korean Spine Society (Korea), and the Western Pacific Orthopaedic Association (Singapore). In addition, he has had over 100 abstracts accepted for either oral or poster presentations at annual spine meetings throughout the world, and has published two textbooks on spine surgery. 

For his outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of diseases & surgery of the spine, he has been the recipient of several awards and honors. These include: Patients’ Choice Award (2008, 2018), Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2011, 2015, 2016, 2018), and Top 10 Doctor – City (2014).

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