Luis Kolb, MD
Assistant Professor of NeurosurgeryCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Neurosurgery Spine
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Neurosurgery Spine
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Neurosurgery Spine
Contact Info
About
Titles
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery Spine
Biography
Dr. Luis Kolb is a neurosurgeon that specializes in spine disorders. He completed his medical school at Yale School of Medicine after which he remained in New Haven, CT where he finished a neurosurgery residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital. After his neurosurgical training, he remained on staff and completed a CAST and AO Spine accredited post-residency fellowship in Complex Spinal Surgery.
Dr. Kolb's practice is predominantly spinal surgery and includes cervical and thoracolumbar deformity reconstruction, oncology, trauma, degenerative disease, and complex revision surgery. His research interests focus on clinical outcomes of spinal surgery, as well as genetic diseases that influence spinal pathology. He particularly focuses on revision surgeries or complex cases. His subspecialty interests include surgical outcomes, spinal biomechanics, spinal oncology, spinal deformity, and minimally invasive spinal techniques. He has taught numerous courses, published several research papers and book chapters in neurosurgical and spine disorders.
Dr. Kolb completed his undergraduate training at Johns Hopkins University where he obtained a Bachelor Degree in both fields of Biomedical Engineering, and in Romance Languages and Literature. Dr. Kolb is a member of numerous organizations including in the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, AANS/CNS Joint Spine Section, American Medical Association, AO Society, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, North American Spine Society, and European Association of Neurological Societies.
Clinical Interests: Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, Idiopathic Scoliosis-adolescent, Degenerative Scoliosis, Cervical Disc Herniation, Cervical Artificial Discs, Degenerative Spondyloisthesis, Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease, Balloon Kyphoplasty, Computer Enhanced Navigation: Image Guided Spine Surgery, Postural Kyphosis (Roundback of Spine)-child, Lumbar Stenosis, Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP), Cervical Stenosis, Lumbar Disc Herniation, Scoliosis-child, Spondylolisthesis-child, Cervical Myelopathy, Herniated Disc, Spondylolysis, Vertebral Compression Fracture, Isthmic Spondylolisthesis, Neck Sprain, ALIF, DLIF, PLIF, TLIF, Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF), Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF), Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF), Degenerative Disc Disease, Chronic Neck Pain, Spinal Stenosis, Fracture, Spine
Appointments
Neurosurgery
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Instructor - Complex Spine Fellowship
- Yale- New Haven Hospital (2017)
- Neurosurgical Residency
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2016)
- Chief Resident - Neurosurgery
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2016)
- MD
- Yale School of Medicine (2009)
- BS
- Johns Hopkins University, Biomedical Engineering (2002)
Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Aladine Elsamadicy, MD
Andrew Koo, MD
Maxwell Laurans, MD, MBA, FAANS
John Havlik, MD, MBA
James B. Yu, MD, MHS, FASTRO
Joseph Paul Antonios, MD/PhD
Publications
2023
A current review of spinal meningiomas: epidemiology, clinical presentation and management
Elsamadicy A, Reeves B, Craft S, Sherman J, Koo A, Sayeed S, Sarkozy M, Kolb L, Lo S, Shin J, Sciubba D, Mendel E. A current review of spinal meningiomas: epidemiology, clinical presentation and management. Journal Of Neuro-Oncology 2023, 161: 395-404. PMID: 36637710, DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04238-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpinal meningiomasClinical presentationTumor developmentAdverse postoperative outcomesBenign spinal tumorsBenign spine tumorsRecent treatment recommendationsCharacteristic imaging findingsSubsequent tumor developmentPostoperative outcomesReceptor statusSpine tumorsImaging findingsSpinal tumorsCase reportTreatment recommendationsClinical evaluationClinical trialsGoogle Scholar searchOperative techniqueIntracranial meningiomasRadiation modalitiesSystematic reviewMeningiomasTumor genetics
2022
Impact of Affective Disorders on Inpatient Opioid Consumption and Hospital Outcomes Following Open Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adult Spine Deformity
Elsamadicy A, Sandhu M, Reeves B, Jafar T, Craft S, Sherman J, Hersh A, Koo A, Kolb L, Lo S, Shin J, Mendel E, Sciubba D. Impact of Affective Disorders on Inpatient Opioid Consumption and Hospital Outcomes Following Open Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adult Spine Deformity. World Neurosurgery 2022, 170: e223-e235. PMID: 36332777, DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.10.114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsInpatient narcotic consumptionInpatient opioid consumptionHealthcare resource utilizationAD cohortAffective disordersNonroutine dischargeOpioid consumptionNarcotic consumptionSpinal fusionAdult spinal deformity surgeryInpatient opioid usePremier Healthcare DatabaseRetrospective cohort studyPosterior spinal fusionLength of staySpinal deformity surgeryAdult spinal deformityAdult spine deformityYears of ageGreater proportionMultivariate regression analysisNon-Hispanic whitesHospital outcomesStudy patientsCohort studyLeveraging HFRS to assess how frailty affects healthcare resource utilization after elective ACDF for CSM
Elsamadicy AA, Koo AB, Sarkozy M, David WB, Reeves BC, Patel S, Hansen J, Sandhu MRS, Hengartner AC, Hersh A, Kolb L, Lo SL, Shin JH, Mendel E, Sciubba DM. Leveraging HFRS to assess how frailty affects healthcare resource utilization after elective ACDF for CSM. The Spine Journal 2022, 23: 124-135. PMID: 35988878, DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2022.08.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHighest Hospital Frailty Risk ScoresHospital Frailty Risk ScoreCervical spondylotic myelopathyNon-routine discharge dispositionDischarge dispositionElective ACDFFrail patientsExtended LOSHospital costsHealth care resource utilizationNationwide Inpatient Sample databaseMultivariate stepwise logistic regressionFrailty Risk ScorePeri-operative protocolSeverity of frailtyTotal admission costLonger hospital stayRetrospective cohort studyAnterior cervical discectomyCervical spine pathologyHealthcare resource utilizationNon-routine dischargeHigh complication rateTotal hospital costsSignificant independent predictorsAssessment of Frailty Indices and Charlson Comorbidity Index for Predicting Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Spine Metastases: A National Database Analysis
Elsamadicy AA, Havlik JL, Reeves B, Sherman J, Koo AB, Pennington Z, Hersh AM, Sandhu MRS, Kolb L, Larry Lo SF, Shin JH, Mendel E, Sciubba DM. Assessment of Frailty Indices and Charlson Comorbidity Index for Predicting Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Spine Metastases: A National Database Analysis. World Neurosurgery 2022, 164: e1058-e1070. PMID: 35644519, DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.05.101.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMetastatic spinal tumor frailty indexCharlson Comorbidity IndexFrailty indexMFI-5Adverse outcomesNonroutine dischargeComorbidity indexUnplanned readmissionAdverse eventsNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseHigher Charlson comorbidity indexQuality Improvement Program databaseMultivariate logistic regression analysisPredicting Adverse OutcomesRetrospective cohort studyImprovement Program databaseNational database analysisLength of stayLogistic regression analysisExtradural spinal metastasisOnly significant predictorAdult patientsCohort studyProlonged lengthIndependent predictors464 Hospital Frailty Risk Score and Healthcare Resource Utilization After Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Column Tumors
Elsamadicy A, Koo A, Reeves B, Pennington Z, Yu J, Goodwin C, Kolb L, Laurans M, Lo S, Shin J, Sciubba D. 464 Hospital Frailty Risk Score and Healthcare Resource Utilization After Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Column Tumors. Neurosurgery 2022, 68: 113-113. DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000001880_464.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsHospital Frailty Risk ScoreNon-routine dischargeFrailty Risk ScoreSpinal column tumorsPatient populationRisk scoreLarge national database studyNational Inpatient Sample databaseMultivariate logistic regression analysisICD-10 diagnostic codesProlonged hospital LOSImpact of frailtyNational database studyHealthcare resource utilizationRetrospective cohort studyTotal hospital costsProcedural Coding SystemLogistic regression analysisRegression analysisMultivariate regression analysisHospital LOSCohort studyHospital admissionIndependent predictorsLonger LOS356 Patient-and-Hospital-Related Risk Factors for Non-Routine Discharge After Lumbar Decompression and Fusion for Spondylolisthesis
Elsamadicy A, Freedman I, Koo A, David W, Hengartner A, Havlik J, Hersh A, Pennington Z, Kolb L, Laurans M, Shin J, Sciubba D. 356 Patient-and-Hospital-Related Risk Factors for Non-Routine Discharge After Lumbar Decompression and Fusion for Spondylolisthesis. Neurosurgery 2022, 68: 84-84. DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000001880_356.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-routine dischargeSurgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseNon-Hispanic black race/ethnicityQuality Improvement Program databaseICD-9-CM diagnosisBlack race/ethnicityMultivariate logistic regression modelDependent functional statusImprovement Program databaseRetrospective cohort studyProcedural Coding SystemQuality of careMultivariate regression analysisPaucity of dataLogistic regression modelsRace/ethnicityUnplanned readmissionCohort studyDischarge dispositionReadmission ratesAdult patientsAdverse eventsIndependent predictorsLonger LOSHospital Frailty Risk Score and healthcare resource utilization after surgery for metastatic spinal column tumors.
Elsamadicy AA, Koo AB, Reeves BC, Pennington Z, Yu J, Goodwin CR, Kolb L, Laurans M, Lo SL, Shin JH, Sciubba DM. Hospital Frailty Risk Score and healthcare resource utilization after surgery for metastatic spinal column tumors. Journal Of Neurosurgery Spine 2022, 37: 241-251. PMID: 35148505, DOI: 10.3171/2022.1.spine21987.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsHospital Frailty Risk ScoreLength of staySpinal column tumorsFrailty Risk ScoreNonroutine dischargeHospital admissionHigh frailtyIntermediate frailtyDischarge dispositionSpinal tumorsLower frailtyDiagnostic codesRisk scoreHigher total hospital costsMean LOSNational Inpatient Sample databaseMultivariate logistic regression analysisICD-10 diagnostic codesImpact of frailtyRetrospective cohort studyHealthcare resource utilizationProportion of patientsTotal hospital costsProcedural Coding SystemLogistic regression analysisDifferences in Health Care Resource Utilization After Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Column Tumors in Patients with a Concurrent Affective Disorder in the United States
Elsamadicy AA, Koo AB, Sarkozy M, Reeves BC, Pennington Z, Havlik J, Sandhu MR, Hersh A, Patel S, Kolb L, Larry Lo SF, Shin JH, Mendel E, Sciubba DM. Differences in Health Care Resource Utilization After Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Column Tumors in Patients with a Concurrent Affective Disorder in the United States. World Neurosurgery 2022, 161: e252-e267. PMID: 35123021, DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.01.112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLength of stayHealth care resource utilizationPostoperative adverse eventsNonroutine dischargeAdverse eventsAffective disordersNational Inpatient Sample databaseMultivariate logistic regression analysisSpinal column metastasesRetrospective cohort studyMetastatic spinal tumorsSpinal column tumorsLogistic regression analysisConcurrent affective disorderGreater total costsRegression analysisMultivariate regression analysisAdult patientsCohort studyDischarge dispositionIntraoperative variablesPatient demographicsHospital admissionIndependent predictorsSpinal metastasesHospital Frailty Risk Score and Healthcare Resource Utilization After Surgery for Primary Spinal Intradural/Cord Tumors
Elsamadicy AA, Koo AB, Reeves BC, Pennington Z, Sarkozy M, Hersh A, Havlik J, Sherman JJZ, Goodwin CR, Kolb L, Laurans M, Lo S, Shin JH, Sciubba DM. Hospital Frailty Risk Score and Healthcare Resource Utilization After Surgery for Primary Spinal Intradural/Cord Tumors. Global Spine Journal 2022, 13: 2074-2084. PMID: 35016582, PMCID: PMC10556884, DOI: 10.1177/21925682211069937.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsHospital Frailty Risk ScoreNon-routine dischargeFrailty Risk ScoreImpact of frailtyCost of admissionDischarge dispositionFrail cohortPrimary tumorSpinal cordRisk scoreNationwide Inpatient Sample databaseRetrospective cohort studyHealthcare resource utilizationLength of stayPrimary spinal tumorsGreater mean costICD-10 codesICD-10-CM codesLarge national datasetPerioperative complicationsPostoperative complicationsAdult patientsCohort studyLonger LOSPatient characteristicsGeographic variations in health care resource utilization following elective ACDF for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: A national trend analysis
Koo AB, Elsamadicy AA, Sarkozy M, Pathak N, David WB, Freedman IG, Reeves BC, Sciubba DM, Laurans M, Kolb L. Geographic variations in health care resource utilization following elective ACDF for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: A national trend analysis. North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ) 2022, 9: 100099. PMID: 35141663, PMCID: PMC8819911, DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2022.100099.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsCervical spondylotic myelopathyLength of stayElective ACDFSpondylotic myelopathyAdult patientsPatient demographicsComplication rateRegional cohortElective anterior cervical discectomyHealth care resource utilizationNational Inpatient Sample databaseAnterior cervical discectomyMean total costHousehold income quartileHealth care deliveryHealth care expendituresNonroutine dischargePerioperative complicationsCervical discectomyDischarge dispositionFemale patientsElixhauser comorbiditiesSurgery variesPrimary diagnosisHospital costs
Clinical Care
Overview
Luis Kolb, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Yale Medicine specializing in spine surgery, with a sub-specialty in complex spine deformity, tumors, degenerative spine diseases and complex revision surgery. Many of the patients he sees have previously bounced from doctors to doctor without any significant improvement. “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing these patients, treating them and having their pain finally go away. They’re back at work and returning to their favorite activities,” says Dr. Kolb.
With each patient, Dr. Kolb asks detailed questions to help him pinpoint the issue and how long it’s been affecting the patient. He also reviews the patient’s history to understand if and how any previous surgeries may be affecting the spine. Dr. Kolb understands that surgery is a significant step and works with patients to make sure they have exhausted all other possible options.
In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Kolb conducts research on new technologies to treat spine tumors through laser technology and minimally invasive surgery. He is also a professor of neurosurgery at the Yale School of Medicine. “There’s a lot to be discovered in neurosurgery,” he says. “That’s what brought me here.”
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Spinal Tumors
Learn More on Yale MedicineSpinal Deformity
Learn More on Yale MedicineMinimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Learn More on Yale MedicineSpinal Stenosis
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Yale Medicine News
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileNews
Get In Touch
Contacts
Locations
Patient Care Locations
Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.