MEET

DR LIAM HARRIS

Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Spine Surgeon

LOCATIONS

  • Dublin

  • Oakland

  • Walnut Creek

PHILOSOPHY OF CARE

Dr. Harris firmly advocates that surgery should serve as a last resort for individuals grappling with back and neck issues. His principal focus centers on optimizing non-surgical therapies for his patients, with a steadfast belief that this course of treatment should be exhaustively explored before any surgical intervention. If surgery becomes an imperative necessity, Dr. Harris is a proponent of the “less is more” philosophy, wherein the least invasive surgical procedures are explored as a primary consideration, with a deliberate effort to avoid fusion whenever possible. His ultimate objective is to expedite patients’ return to an active and improved state of well-being while minimizing their recovery period. Dr. Harris champions a comprehensive multi-specialty approach as the safest and most effective strategy for addressing back and neck problems, involving collaborative efforts with physical therapists, primary care physicians, and physiatrists to provide a holistic approach to spinal care.

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About Dr Harris

Dr. Harris is an Orthopedic Surgeon fellowship trained in Spine Surgery with Golden State Orthopedics and Spine in Walnut Creek, Concord, and Brentwood. Dr. Harris specializes in the surgical treatment of all back and neck disorders. He is particularly interested in minimally invasive surgery, biportal endoscopic spine surgery, robotic surgery, complex revision surgery and adult spinal deformity. He has authored over 30 peer reviewed articles and textbook chapters and has presented his research all over the world.

A native of the east bay, Dr. Harris completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Los Angeles, before receiving his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA.

With an enthusiasm for continued education, Dr. Harris relocated to New York to complete a combined neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgery fellowship at one of the top hospitals in the country, the NYU Langone Medical Center. Here, he trained in the most cutting-edge, complex, and minimally invasive techniques in the field.

While highly experienced in spine surgery, Dr. Harris firmly advocates that surgery should serve as a last resort for individuals grappling with back and neck issues. His principal focus centers on optimizing non-surgical therapies for his patients, with a steadfast belief that this course of treatment should be exhaustively explored before any surgical intervention. If surgery becomes necessary, Dr. Harris is a proponent of the “less is more” philosophy, wherein the least invasive surgical procedures are explored as a primary consideration, with a deliberate effort to avoid fusion whenever possible. His ultimate objective is to expedite patients’ return to an active and improved state of well-being while minimizing their recovery period. Dr. Harris champions a comprehensive multi-specialty approach as the safest and most effective strategy for addressing back and neck problems, involving collaborative efforts with physical therapists, primary care physicians, and physiatrists to provide a holistic approach to spinal care.

When not in the office, Dr. Harris is an avid golfer, skier, and former lacrosse player and enjoys spending time with his family.

FELLOWSHIP
Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Spine Surgery
Complex reconstruction and deformity, degenerative and minimally-invasive spine surgery

RESIDENCY
New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY

INTERNSHIP
General Surgery
New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY

MEDICAL DEGREE:
State University of New York, Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

TO WATCH EDUCATIONAL SPINE VIDEOS, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Chapters

Kwong, LM; Harris, L; Management of Tibial Bone Defects in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty. “Mastering Orthopaedic Techniques: Revision Knee Arthroplasty”. (pp. 151-160) Editors: Malhotra, R; Gautam, D; Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. 2019.

Manuscripts

Harris, L; Barrett, K; Rolfe, K; Sensory Sparing Does Not Change Long-term Outcomes in Motor Complete Spinal Cord Injuries. The Spine Journal. Feb 2;S1529-9430(22). 2022.

Harris, L; Andras, LM; Mundis, GM; Sponseller ,PD; Emans, JB; Growing Spine Study Group, Skaggs, DL; Five or more proximal anchors and including upper end vertebra protects against reoperation in distraction-based growing rods. Spine Deformity. 8(4):781-786. 2020.

Murgai, RR, Harris, L; Choi, PD, Goldstein, RY; Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Poor Outcomes of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. Journal of Pediatrics. 211:159-163. 2019

Harris, L; Arkader, A; Broom, A; Flynn, J; Yellin, J; Whitlock, P; Miller, A; Skaggs, DL; Choi, P. Pulseless Supracondylar Humerus Fracture with Anterior Interosseus Nerve or Median Nerve Injury – An Absolute Indication for Open Reduction? Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 39(1):e1-e7. 2019

Harris, L; Andras, L; Sponseller, P; Johnston, C; Emans, J; Skaggs, D; Growing Spine Study Group; Comparison of Weight

Percentile Gain with Growth-Friendly Constructs in Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS). Spine Deformity. 6(1) 43-47. 2018

Harris, L; Vangsness, C.T.; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Levels of Human Spinal Tissues. Spine. 43(9):e545-e550. 2018.

Nielsen, E; Skaggs, DL; Harris, L; Pace, JL; Andras, L; Transfer Time After Acceptance to a Level I Trauma Center. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Global Research and Review. Orthopaedic Trauma. 2(2): e81. 2018.

Nielsen, E; Andras, LM; Harris, L; Skaggs, DL; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Swab Results Did Not Change Treatment or Outcome in Pediatric Spinal Fusion Patients. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 26(17) 617-623. 2018.

Shabtai, L; Andras, L; Portman, M; Harris, L; Choi, P; Tolo, V; Skaggs, DL. Sacral Alar Iliac (SAI) Screws Fail 75% Less

Frequently than Iliac Screws in Neuromuscular Scoliosis. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 37(8):e470-e475. 2017.

Yasmeh, S; Quinn, A; Harris, L; Sanders, AE; Sousa, T; Skaggs, D; Andras, L; Periosteal Turndown Flap for Occipitocervical Fusion in Pediatric Spine Trauma. European Spine Journal. 26(9): 2303-2307. 2017.

Andras, L; Joiner, E; Skaggs, K; Harris, L; Broom, A; Williams, A; Skaggs, D. Removal of Infected Posterior Spinal Implants: Be Prepared to Transfuse. Spine Deformity. 4(4):283-287. 2016

Seehausen DA, Harris L, Kay RM, Pace JL; Accessory Navicular is Associated with Wider and More Prominent Navicular Bone in Pediatric Patients by Radiographic Measurement. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 36(5): 521-5. 2016. .

Vangsness, CT; Sternberg, H; Harris, L; Umbilical Cord Tissue Offers the Greatest Number of Harvestable Mesenchymal

Stem Cells for Research and Clinical Application: A Literature Review of Different Harvest Sites. Arthroscopy 31(9) 1836-43. 2015.

Blumstein, GW; Andras, LM; Seehausen, DA; Harris, L; Ross, PA; Skaggs, DL. Fever is Common Postoperatively Following

Posterior Spinal Fusion: Infection is an Uncommon Cause. Journal of Pediatrics. 166(3): 751-5. 2015.

Arbing, MA; Chan, S; Harris, L; Kuo, E; Zhou, TT; Ahn, CJ; Nguyen, L; He, Q; Lu, J; Menchavez, PT; Shin, A; Holton, T; Sawaya, MR, Cascio, D, Eisenberg, D.; Heterologous expression of mycobacterial Esx complexes in Escherichia coli for structural studies is facilitated by the use of maltose binding protein fusions. PLoS One. 29;8(11):e81753. 2013.

Abstracts, Presentations, Posters

Heckmann, N; Harris, L; Foster, B; Omid, R; Inter-State Variation in Hospital Costs for Common Orthopaedic Procedures.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Surgeons. E-Poster. July 2013.

Harris, L; Andras, L; Sponseller, P; Johnston, C; Emans, J; Skaggs, D; Growing Spine Study Group. Comparison of Weight Percentile Gain with Growth-Friendly Constructs in Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS). Podium Presentation: European Pediatric Orthopaedic Society. April 2016. University of Southern California Medical Student Research Fair. April 2016. E-Poster: International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis, November 2015.

Andras, L; Harris, L; Yang, S; Broom, S; Park, H; Archer, M; Skaggs, D. In the first 5 years of Treatment, the Charges for Guided Growth Constructs are 30% less than Growing Rods. E-Poster: International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis, November, 2016

Harris, L; Broom, A; Arkader, A; Flynn, J; Yellin, J; Whitlock, P; Miller, A; Choi, P. Pulseless Supracondylar Humerus Fracture with AIN or Median Nerve Injury – An Absolute Indication for Open Reduction?. Podium Presentation: Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, April 2016. European Pediatric Orthopaedic Society, April 2016.

Harris, L; Andras, L; Mundis, G; Sponseller, P; Emans, J; Skaggs, D; Growing Spine Study Group. Proximal Anchor Constructs in Early Onset Scoliosis Patients Treated with Growth Friendly Implants. Podium Presentation: International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques, July 2016.

Harris, L; Skaggs, DL; Pace, JL; Nielsen, E; Andras, L; Transfer Time for Orthopaedic patients to a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center exceeds 3 hours, even for urgent cases. Podium Presentation: American academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, March 2017.

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