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Home > OH Providers > Neurosurgeons

Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD

(17 Ratings)

Specializes in: Neurosurgery

Professional interests include: artificial disc replacement, spinal cord injury, spinal cancer, and more.

1730 W 25th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113

(216) 636-5860

Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD is a neurosurgeon in Cleveland, OH specializing in neurosurgery. Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic, Fairview Hospital, Lutheran Hospital and Avon - Richard E. Jacobs Health Center.

Office Locations

Address:

1730 W 25th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113

Address:

18101 Lorain Avenue Mail Code Fv Eb 903
Cleveland, OH 44111

Address:

2301 Holmes Street
Kansas City, MO 64108

Address:

33100 Cleveland Clinic Boulevard
Avon, OH 44011

Some issues Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD can help you with:

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury medicine is a branch of medicine that treats damage to the spinal cord from an injury or a nontraumatic myelopathy, which is any disorder that affects the spinal area. The spinal cord is a section of nerve tissue protected by the vertebrae (spinal bones). Trauma to the spinal cord, typically caused by compression or bent vertebrae, prevents the body and brain from communicating. This can result in pain, loss of sensation, and impaired physical function and movement. Acute spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are a leading cause of permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries may develop from accidents or myelopathies, disorders that provoke spinal compression. Traumatic incidents such as falls, sports injuries, vehicle accidents, and bullet or stab wounds can cause an acute spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury medicine seeks to stabilize the spine and to alleviate the symptoms of spine damage. Practitioners of spinal cord injury medicine are called spinal cord injury specialists. Spinal cord injury medicine is an interdisciplinary field, meaning physicians of various specialties may be trained to treat spinal cord injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord may initially be diagnosed through X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. Patients can also undergo spinal exams to evaluate their sensory ability and strength. Injuries to the spinal cord can be complete (no feeling or sensation) or incomplete (some feeling or sensation remains). Conditions spinal cord injury medicine specialists may treat include:

Paralysis, such as paraplegia (loss of function in the legs), or quadriplegia (loss of function from the neck down)
Spine fracture or trauma, which can lead to impairment and/or significant pain
Spinal infections
Myelopathies, such as herniated disks, spinal tumors, and rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylosis, and degenerative conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)

Treatment for spinal cord injuries often involves surgery, either directly after an injury occurs or at a later date. Surgery for spine injuries is intended to ease spinal compression and stabilize the spine. Surgical procedures can involve shifting vertebrae, removing bone, or altering spinal placement with implantable devices. Patients with significant spinal trauma may require urgent surgical intervention.

Surgical treatments can be complemented by rehabilitative physical therapy to improve mobility. Spinal cord injury specialists also treat complications arising from a spinal injury, such as respiratory or bladder conditions. Some patients with spinal cord injuries may require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury specialists aim to help these patients successfully adjust and lead an improved quality of life. An emerging treatment for spinal cord injuries is neural prosthetics, which replicate patients' lost nerve function. Neural prostheses may be used as artificial body parts or assistive devices that patients may cognitively control. Other assistive devices include wheelchairs and scooters.

Spinal cord injury specialists may collaborate with physical therapists, radiologists, neurologists, urologists, and orthopedists.

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure to permanently join together two or more vertebrae, the bones in the spine. Certain spinal disorders can lead to instability and pain, and the idea behind spinal fusion is that fusing vertebrae together can both make them stronger and reduce motion, which can sometimes reduce pain.

There are several different types of spinal fusion surgery available, mostly depending on where a patient's pain is located and whether his or her surgeon will perform the procedure through the back, front, or side. In general, a fusion is performed by packing the vertebrae to be fused with grafted bone. This bone may be taken from the patient's hip, may be donated from a cadaver, or it may be a manufactured synthetic material. The bone is placed along the vertebrae, and sometimes, the disc that lies in between the vertebrae is removed and replaced with grafted bone. The bone material will grow and cement the two vertebrae together. After the bone graft is placed, the vertebrae are sometimes held in place with rods, screws, plates, or cages, depending on the weakness of the spine and needs of the graft.

Spinal fusion is a significant surgery and can take three to four hours or more. Recovery is typically two to four days in the hospital. After surgery, it is important to remember that the fusion takes time to grow from the bone graft. So, the actual fusion is not complete for several months. Patients will probably feel somewhat better right away, but it may take a while to feel the full effects of the fusion as the bone grows into place. In the meantime, doctors might have patients wear a brace to protect their spine and keep it properly aligned.

Spinal fusion is not used for all kinds of back pain. Changing the way the spine moves can lead to strain on the other joints in the back, and fusion is only performed when the benefits outweigh the risks. Some spine disorders that are treated with fusion include:

Curvature disorders, such as scoliosis and kyphosis
Degenerative disc disease
Spondylolisthesis, a disorder that causes vertebrae to slip over each other
Significant spinal fractures that cause instability
Weakened spine due to infection or tumor
Some cases of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column
Chronic lower back pain (although the use of fusion to treat this is controversial)

Regardless of the diagnosis, there is always a possibility of 'failure' with spinal fusion, or of the surgery not fully solving the pain. This is more likely when fusion is used primarily to treat pain instead of structural problems. Patients can improve their chances of a successful outcome by stopping smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, moving their body every day, and following their doctor's instructions for any physical therapy that they are prescribed.

doctor visit	48

**Gender**
Male	24
Female	26

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	32
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	31

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	46
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	26
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	36
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	34
hospital care	15
inpatient care	15

**Gender**
Male	21
Female	29

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	31
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	27

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	52
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	34
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	50
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	126
hospital care	37
inpatient care	37

**Gender**
Male	148
Female	144

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	246
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	118
From 75 to 84	78
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	32
Dementia	11
Cancer	11

decompression surgery	20
doctor visit	368
hospital care	123
inpatient care	123
nerve procedures	20
spinal procedures	34

**Gender**
Male	162
Female	158

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	276
Black	18
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	136
From 75 to 84	79
85 and over	37
Less than 65	68

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	32
Asthma	30
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	33
Dementia	13
Cancer	17

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	8
decompression surgery	42
doctor visit	423
hospital care	109
inpatient care	109
neck surgery	10
nerve procedures	42
spinal procedures	65

**Gender**
Male	183
Female	162

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	305
Black	16
Hispanic	13
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	157
From 75 to 84	109
85 and over	31
Less than 65	48

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	44
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	37
Dementia	14
Cancer	18

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	8
decompression surgery	43
doctor visit	392
hospital care	106
inpatient care	106
nerve procedures	43
spinal procedures	66

**Gender**
Male	157
Female	181

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	302
Black	15
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	144
From 75 to 84	115
85 and over	36
Less than 65	43

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	43
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	36
Dementia	16
Cancer	12

decompression surgery	27
doctor visit	402
hospital care	115
inpatient care	115
nerve procedures	27
spinal procedures	41

**Gender**
Male	194
Female	161

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	312
Black	17
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	12
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	165
From 75 to 84	114
85 and over	36
Less than 65	40

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	45
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	40
Dementia	17
Cancer	17

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	7
decompression surgery	35
doctor visit	285
hospital care	45
inpatient care	45
neck surgery	9
nerve procedures	35
spinal procedures	60

**Gender**
Male	152
Female	142

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	263
Black	0
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	128
From 75 to 84	108
85 and over	33
Less than 65	25

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	44
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	37
Dementia	19
Cancer	15

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	18
decompression surgery	58
doctor visit	823
neck surgery	9
nerve procedures	58
spinal procedures	120

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Cleveland, OH were hospital care, inpatient care, spinal procedures and nerve procedures.

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	13
decompression surgery	39
doctor visit	324
hospital care	78
inpatient care	78
neck surgery	10
nerve procedures	39
spinal procedures	69

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD.

**Gender**
Female	100
Male	104

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	12
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	170
Hispanic	2
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	1

**Age**
85 and over	17
75 to 84	60
Less than 65	28
65 to 74	84

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, depression and diabetes.

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	14
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	30
Atrial Fibrillation	8
Dementia	9
Cancer	9

Education & Training

He completed residency at Kilpauk Medical College General Surgery George Town, India. He is certified by the Neurological Surgery and has a state license in Missouri.

Residency: Kilpauk Medical College General Surgery George Town, India (1999)

Board Certification: Neurological Surgery

Licensed In: Missouri

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Cleveland Clinic

Fairview Hospital

Lutheran Hospital

Avon - Richard E. Jacobs Health Center

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.88 out of 5 stars based on 17 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Cleveland, OH.

4.88

Overall Rating

(17 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Stryker Corporation	$2,589 Tritanium $1,003	OASYS $731	XIA $658	THORACO-LUMBAR $146	AERO $21	Other $30
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.	$349 Spine-Cervical $349
Orthofix Medical, Inc.	$30 Spinal-Stim Osteogenesis Stimulator $15	Cervical-Stim Osteogenesis Stimulator $15
Pfizer Inc.	$14 VYNDAQEL $14

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$1,801
Food and Beverage	$832
Education	$349

Biography

Dr. Gandhivarma Subramaniam's specialty is neurosurgery. Dr. Subramaniam's areas of expertise include the following: spinal decompression, tumor removal, and cervical (neck) spine problems. He has received a 5.0 out of 5 star rating by his patients. His professional affiliations include Lutheran Hospital and Fairview Hospital.