Explore information about spine conditions, potential treatment pathways, and how to connect with the practice of Ian White, MD.
Practicing at Indiana Orthopedic Institute ↗
Originally from Kauai, Hawaii, Dr. Ian White brings extensive neurosurgical experience and a personal, collaborative approach to spine care.
Dr. White completed his neurosurgery residency at Indiana University. He previously served as Neurotrauma Director and Director of Complex Spine at a Level I trauma center in Ohio, caring for patients with challenging neurological and spinal conditions.
His focus spans the full spectrum of spine surgery, from complex procedures to minimally invasive approaches. He works with each patient to develop an individualized strategy aimed at a safe, efficient recovery and durable results, with the goal of returning patients to the activities they love.
Outside the operating room, Dr. White enjoys tennis and hockey, both of which he played at the collegiate level. His background as a competitive athlete gives him a personal appreciation for the importance of mobility, physical performance, and returning to the activities that make life fulfilling.
From complex spine conditions to less invasive treatment options, Dr. White emphasizes thoughtful decisions made together with patients, with the aim of lasting improvement and a return to meaningful activities.
Learn about common symptoms associated with spine conditions. Some changes seen on imaging cause no symptoms, and individual evaluation is essential.
Common symptoms: Neck pain and stiffness; pain radiating into the shoulder or arm; tingling, numbness or weakness in an arm or hand. If the spinal cord is compressed, hand clumsiness or balance changes may occur.
Common symptoms: Lower back pain; radiating buttock or leg pain (sciatica); tingling, numbness or weakness in the leg or foot. Symptoms may worsen with sitting, bending or coughing.
Common symptoms: Lumbar stenosis may cause leg pain, heaviness or numbness when standing or walking, often relieved by sitting or bending forward. Cervical stenosis may cause arm symptoms, hand clumsiness or difficulty walking.
Common symptoms: Back or neck stiffness, aching and reduced flexibility; sometimes radiating arm or leg symptoms if nerves are compressed. Many age-related changes cause no symptoms.
Common symptoms: Sharp, burning or electric pain radiating into an arm or leg, with possible tingling, numbness or weakness in the distribution of the affected nerve root.
Common symptoms: Excessive forward rounding of the upper back, visible postural changes, back pain, stiffness or fatigue. Severe deformity can impair standing upright and occasionally breathing or neurologic function.
Common symptoms: Uneven shoulders or waist, rib prominence, trunk imbalance or back pain. Adults may develop leg pain, numbness or reduced walking tolerance if nerve compression is present; mild curves are often painless.
Common symptoms: Persistent or worsening pain, weakness, new sensory symptoms, postural changes, loss of hand dexterity or balance difficulty warrant evaluation.
Many spine conditions can initially be managed without surgery. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, symptoms, neurologic examination, and individual goals.
Options may include: Physical therapy and a tailored home exercise program; activity and ergonomic modifications; appropriate anti-inflammatory or other pain medications; supervised strengthening and low-impact activity; weight management and smoking cessation when applicable; and selected image-guided epidural steroid or other targeted injections.
Some patients benefit from multidisciplinary pain management. Injections may provide temporary symptom relief but do not correct structural instability or significant spinal cord compression.
When to reconsider treatment: Persistent disabling symptoms, progressive neurologic deficits, or evidence of spinal cord compression may warrant a surgical evaluation. Sudden bladder or bowel changes, saddle numbness, or rapidly worsening weakness require emergency assessment.
Intradural tumors develop within the dura, the protective covering surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots. Some are intradural-extramedullary (inside the dura but outside the spinal cord), while others are intramedullary (within the spinal cord itself). Tumors may be benign or malignant.
Possible symptoms: Persistent neck or back pain, sometimes worse at night; pain radiating into an arm or leg; numbness or tingling; progressive weakness; changes in balance or walking; hand clumsiness; and, in more severe cases, bowel or bladder dysfunction. Symptoms vary by tumor location and may develop gradually.
Why neurosurgical expertise matters: These tumors may lie directly against the spinal cord, nerve roots, and delicate blood vessels. When surgery is indicated, treatment may involve opening the dura and microsurgical dissection, sometimes with intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, to remove or reduce the tumor while preserving neurological function. Evaluation by a neurosurgeon experienced in spinal tumor surgery is important; other appropriately trained spine specialists may also participate in care.
Diagnosis and treatment: MRI, often with contrast, is typically used to assess the lesion. Depending on tumor type, size, growth, symptoms, and neurological findings, management may include MRI surveillance, surgery, or selected additional therapies. New bowel or bladder dysfunction or rapidly worsening weakness requires urgent evaluation.
Urgent symptoms: New bladder or bowel dysfunction, numbness around the groin, rapidly worsening weakness or sudden major walking difficulty require emergency medical assessment.
For education only; not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical care.
Learn about surgical approaches, expected goals, and considerations. Treatment recommendations are individualized after clinical evaluation.
Procedures intended to relieve pressure on neural structures in selected patients.
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
Posterolateral lumbar fusion, including bone graft placement over the transverse processes and stabilization with pedicle screws and rods.
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
METRx tubes, operating microscope, and a personalized strategy focused on lasting results and returning to the activities you love.
Reassessment of prior spine surgery and reconstruction
Multilevel spinal cord decompression and stabilization
Motion-preserving cervical surgery using a small anterior neck approach
Oblique lumbar interbody fusion and alignment restoration
Dr. White practices at Indiana Orthopedic Institute. Confirm office hours and additional location details before publishing.