Dr. Camden Whitaker, back, neck and spine surgeon at Kansas Joint & Spine Specialists, will be the first in the area to offer minimally invasive robotic-assisted back procedures using the…
Nurse Practitioner
Jaden Hutfles, A.P.R.N.
About Dr. Whitaker
Dr. Camden Whitaker is a board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon specializing in herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and reconstructive and revision spine surgery of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Dr. Whitaker joined Kansas Joint & Spine Specialists in 2013, and he chose to practice spine surgery in order to make a true difference in his patients’ lives and help relieve their pain and return them to a normal life. He focuses on building and maintaining good relationships with his patients, following them long after surgery to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Dr. Whitaker received his Doctor of Medicine degree from The University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1998. He later completed his residency at The University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita in 2003 after a rotation at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, Missouri. He went on to complete two spine fellowships at both the Texas Back Institute in Plano, Texas, in 2004 and the Rothman Spine Institute at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2004. He specializes in all areas of the spine—cervical, thoracic, and lumbar—and is dedicated to assisting patients in their desire to regain activity and function, while decreasing pain associated with spinal deformities. He also trains residents in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine procedures.
Dr. Whitaker finds new technologies and research exciting, and in fact, he has written seventeen journal publications, nine book chapters, a book publication (Pocket Spine), and twenty-five podium and poster presentations—all ranging from percutaneous pedicle screw placement to total disc replacement. Dr. Whitaker also speaks at lectures regularly across the nation.
Additionally, Dr. Whitaker is committed to offering the latest and most advanced treatment options. That’s why he is proud to be the first in the area to offer minimally invasive robotic-assisted lumbar procedures using the Mazor X Stealth™ Edition robotic guidance platform—a state-of-the-art technology that assists with predictability, visibility, and precision during minimally invasive and open orthopaedic spine surgeries.
When Dr. Whitaker isn’t caring for patients or teaching, he spends his time with his children and also enjoys playing golf, tennis, and basketball.
Dr. Whitaker is available to see patients in Wichita at our East office.
Education & Training
Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology
- The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Doctor of Medicine
- The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS
Orthopaedic Residency
- Shriners Hospitals for Children, St. Louis, MO
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
- The University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita, Wichita, KS
Spine Fellowship
- Texas Back Institute, Plano, TX
Neurosurgery Spine Trauma Rotation
- University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
Post-Fellowship Trauma Rotation
- Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Certification
Board Certification
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professional Associations
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- American Medical Association
- Kansas Medical Society
- Kansas Surgical Society
- Medical Society of Sedgwick County
- Mid-America Orthopaedic Association
- Mid-Central States Orthopaedic Society
- North American Spine Society
- Scoliosis Research Society
Staff Appointments
American Orthopedic Spine International
- Faculty Member
Blue Cross Blue Shield Orthopedic Committee
- Liason
HCA Wesley Medical Center
- Chief of Orthopedics
- Orthopedic Executive Committee Member
- Spine Medical Director
The University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita, Orthopaedic Residency Program
- Clinical Associate Professor
- Research and Publications Committee Member
- Resident Core Committee Member
- Resident Competency Committee Member
- Resident Selection Committee Member
Hospital Affiliations
- Wesley Medical Center
- Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center
- Via Christi Hospital St. Francis
Spine Research
Pocket Spine: Book published 2006 with Quality Medical Publishers and Texas Back Institute. PDA form also created. In coordination with Dr. Hochschuler.
Pocket Spine II: Second Edition Published with Quality Medical Publishers. 2014
Spine Research: Patient Controlled Anesthesia: Published.
Donelson, W., Dean, J., Ablah, E., Whitaker, C., Berg, G. M., McCormick, K., Okut, H., & Whitaker, C. (2022). Patient Controlled Analgesia and an Alternative Protocol: A Comparison of Outcomes After Thoracic and Lumbar Surgery. Kansas Journal of Medicine, Vol. 15 No. 2 (2022): May - Aug. https://doi.org/10.17161/kjm.vol15.15972
Donelson W, Ablah E, Okut H, Whitaker C. Patient Controlled Analgesia, and an Alternative Protocol: A Comparison of Outcomes After Thoracic and Lumbar Surgery. Oral presentation at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita’s 27th Annual Research Forum; April 25, 2019; Wichita, KS.
Spine Research: Physical Therapy POD #0
Lierz M, Ablah E, Dean J, Okut H, Whitaker C. Day 1 vs Day 0 Post-operative Physical Therapy in Spine Surgery: Comparing Length of Stay. Poster presentation at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita’s 30th Annual Research Forum. April 22, 2022. Wichita, KS.
Publication: The Spine Journal. 2023
Spine Research: Rib Removal for DLIF
Removal or Non-Removal of the Rib During a Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion Relative to Postoperative Pain. Amy M. Terry, B.S.; Joey Dean, MBA, CPHRM, CPPS; Camden Whitaker, M.D. 2019. Presented as a poster at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita’s Annual Research Forum. April 21, 2023. Wichita, KS.
Terry A, Ablah E, Dean J, Okut H, Whitaker C. Removal or Non-Removal of the Rib during a Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion Relative to Postoperative Pain and Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Oral presentation at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita’s 28th Annual Research Forum; April 17, 2020; Online.
Spine Research: The Therapeutic Effects of Naringin on Degenerative Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells for Discogenic Low Back Pain. Nianhu Li, Camden Whitaker, Zhanwang Xu, Michael Heggeness, Shang-You Yang. JOURNAL OF SPINE: Spine J. 2016 Oct;16(10):1231-1237.
Spine Case Report: New Diagnosis of Conversion Disorder Following Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. Brendan Mitchell, Jake Bianco, Faith Kim, Camden Whitaker. Journal of Surgical Case Reports. 2023 Jun 16; 2023(6):341.
Spine Case Report: Spinal Subdural Hygroma as a Post-Operative Complication in Revision Spine Fusion: a Case Report. Michelle Nentwig, Camden Whitaker, Shang-You Yang. Journal of Surgical Case Reports, Volume 2019, Issue 11, November 2019, rjz305.
Spine Publication: Heterotopic Ossification Associated With rhBMP-2 (Infuse) in Posterolateral Lumbar Spine Fusion: A Case Report Spine. SPINE. 37(8):E502-E506, April 15, 2012.
Orthopaedic Publication: Quadratus Femoris Rupture: A Case Report. 2014
Orthopaedic Spine Research/Publication: Stand-alone Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine: Results With a 2 Year Follow-up. SPINE. Vol. 39, Issue 15: p E894-E901, July 1, 2014.
Presented as a Podium Presentation at NASS Spine Across the Sea 2012; July 29, 2012 – August 2, 2012; Kauai, Hawaii.
Presented as a Podium Presentation at NASS 27th Annual Meeting; October 24-27, 2012; Dallas, Texas. Accepted as an Electronic Poster Presentation at: 19th Annual IMAST; July 19-21, 2012; Istanbul, Turkey.
Orthopaedic Spine Research/Publication: Wear debris in total disc, 2008 Blood metal ion levels following implantation of the all-metal FlexiCore® lumbar intervertebral disc replacement, 24–36 month follow-up. Submitted SRS and IMAST 2010.
Orthopaedic Spine Book Chapter: Chapter on new technology questions. Editor Kern Singh, M.D. 2007
Orthopaedic Spine Book Chapter: Singh, K: Curbside Consultation of the Spine: 49 Clinical Questions. SLACK Incorporated, 2008. Contributed 5 chapters
Orthopaedic Spine Research: Functional Outcomes of Traumatic Thoracolumbar Fractures with Extreme Kyphosis. Wall BA, Moskowitz A, Whitaker MC, Jones TL, Maben CL. Functional and clinical outcomes of thoracolumbar junction (T10 – L2) fractures in trauma patients.
Paper presented at: 55th Annual Mid-Central States Orthopaedic Society Meeting; June 4 – 8, 2008; Jackson Hole, WY.
Paper #108 presented at: 26th Annual MidAmerica Orthopaedic Association. - Meeting; April 16 20,2008; ChampionsGate, FL.
Paper and poster #22 presented at: 16th Annual University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Research Forum; May 2 – 3, 2008; Wichita, KS.
Poster presented at: 59th Annual Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation Meeting; May 28, 2008; Wichita, KS.
Paper presented at: Kansas Orthopaedic Society Annual Membership Meeting; September 21, 2007; Kansas City, KS.
Paper #534 presented at: 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; March 5 – 9, 2008; San Francisco, CA.
E-poster #761 presented at: 15th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques; July 8 – 11, 2008; Hong Kong, China.
Orthopaedic Spine Research/Presentation: Stuckey RM, Moskowitz A, Whitaker MC, Jones TL, A Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fracture Outcomes Study of a Trauma Registry Cohort. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2010.
Mid-Central States Orthopaedic Society, Branson, MO, June 3-6, 2010.
Mid-America Orthopaedic Association, Lost Pines, Austin, TX, April 22, 2010. Paper No. 41.
KU Research Forum, Wichita, KS, April 19, 2010.
Orthopaedic Spine Book Chapter: Cervical Spine Surgery Challenges: Diagnosis and Management. In coordination with Drs. Todd Albert, Moe Lim, Joon Lee, and Thieme Medical Publishers. 2006
Orthopaedic Spine Publication: Complications in Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery. Monograph for American Academy of Orthopaedics. 2006 In coordination with Drs. Allan Hillibrand and Joon Lee
Orthopaedic Spine Research: Functional Outcomes of Hybrid (total disc replacement and fusion) Constructs. Accepted for E-poster at IMAST Meeting July 15-16, 2006. In coordination with Dr. Alan Moskowitz
Orthopaedic Spine Research and Publication: Case Report: Hyperkyphosis an Indicator of Syringomyelia in Adolescent “Idiopathic” Scoliosis. In coordination with Dr. Lawrence Lenke, Washington University and Shriners Children Hospital, Saint Louis, Missouri. Spring of 2002. Published in Spine 2003; 28(1):E16-E20.
Orthopaedic Spine Research and Publication: The use of Halo traction in large, rigid scoliosis deformities. Retrospective review of 50 cases in preparation for publication and presentation. In coordination with Dr. Lawrence Lenke, Washington University and Shriners Children Hospital, Saint Louis, Missouri. Accepted to SRS and AAOS as podium/poster presentations 3/03 and 4/03 respectively. Published in Spine, Feb. 15, 2005; Vol. 30, No. 4, S475
Orthopaedic Spine Research, Presentation, and Publication - Case study of Isola posterior instrumentation and fusion of neuromuscular spinal deformities. Coordination with Dr. Marc Asher and Dr. Douglas Burton Summer 1997 to 2000. Published in Spine Sept. 15, 2000 issue and Scoliosis Research Society Publication.
Scoliosis Research Society – 34th Annual Meeting. San Diego, California. Sept. 23-25,1999. Research Presented.
North America Spine Society - Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois. Oct. 20-23, 1999. Research Presented.
International Research Society of Spinal Deformities Conference - 1998 Meeting. Burlington, Vermont. July 28-July 1, 1998. Presented above research.
Medical and Graduate Student Research Forum 1998 - a general audience research presentation day at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Orthopedic Spine Publication: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Brochure for North American Spine Society. In coordination with Dr. Barton Sachs.
Orthopaedic Spine Research, Presentation and Publication: Researched the return to work of total disc arthroplasty compared to stand alone anterior interbody fusion and circumferential fusion. Accepted for podium and poster presentation at Spinal Arthroplasty Society Meeting, Vienna, Austria May 4-7, 2004. Coordination with Drs. Zigler, Sachs, Hochschuler, Blumenthal and Guyer of Texas Back Institute.
Orthopaedic Spine Research, Presentation and Publication: Researched the complications of total disc arthroplasty compared to stand alone anterior interbody fusion and circumferential fusion. Accepted for podium and poster presentation ISSLS 2004 Meeting, and Spinal Arthroplasty Meeting 2004. Coordination with Drs. Zigler, Sachs, Hochschuler, Blumenthal and Guyer of Texas Back Institute.
Orthopaedic Spine Research: Study comparing the electromyographic recordings of lumbar percutaneous pedicle screws using plastic and metallic dilators. One hundred pedicle screws will be tested with plastic and then metallic dilator sleeves. A study to help determine safe screw placement for percutaneous pedicle screws. Reached statistically significance at 27 screws. Accepted as poster at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon Meeting 2005.
Spine Meeting Director: Spine Controversies. Started spine meeting in coordination with Dr. Chris Glattes. Feb. 2006-2011. National Meeting
Spine Meeting Faculty: Faculty Position. Advances in Techniques in Degenerative Lumbar and Cervical Disorders Meeting. Santa Fe, 2004-2011. International Meeting.
Editorial Board: Contemporary Spine Surgery. 2008
Board Review Course Faculty: Oral board review course, Coordinated with Stryker, Las Vegas 2007, 2008
Board Review Course Faculty: Oral board review course, Coordinated with Stryker, Kansas City 2007
Anterior Spine Course: Faculty at Regional Meeting in Kansas City, Lecture and
Cadaver Lab. Teaching approaches to lumbar spine and technique. Synthes Sponsored. Kansas City, 2007
Thunderstick Spine Meeting: Faculty speaker. Chamberlain, S.D. 2008
Apatech National Sales Meeting: First US national sales meeting, one of two speakers. 2009
Wichita State University Pre-Med Mentor: Mentoring Wichita State premedicine students, includes clinical and surgical curriculum. 2008-2014
Operating Room Spine Course for Nurses: Boston, MA, July 2011. In conjunction with University of Colorado
Spine Patents
- Medical Use Camera: Serial No.; 16/916,834. Filing Date 2020-06-03
- Bone Graft Harvesting: US 11,576,686 B2, Date Feb. 14, 2023. Inventor.
Orthopedic Research & Current Research
Orthopaedic Trauma Research and Publication: Case Report: Failure of Intramedullary Expandable Tibial Nail and Fragmentation During Extraction. Daily BC, Whitaker MC. Kansas Journal of Medicine. Aug;3(4):Epub 2010-8-24.
Orthopaedic Hand Research and Publication – Case report: Primary, Non-traumatic Mycobacterium Avium Complex Osteomyelitis of the Distal Phalanx. In coordination with Dr. George L. Lucas. May of 2004, published in American Journal of Orthopedics, Vol. XXXIII, No. 5.
Orthopaedic Total Joint Research: Biomechanical research implanting femoral stems and measuring subsidence. Subsidence of femoral prosthesis comparing vacuum versus hand mixed cement. Preparing for publication. In coordination with Dr. David McQueen and Orthopaedic Research Institute.
Sponsorship: Howmedica Osteonics donation of $100,000.00 in supplies and implants.
Grant: Kansas University School of Medicine -Wichita Research Development Seed Grant received $3,000.00 for research.
Presentation: Poster Presentation at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Spring 2003. Selected by the Scientific Program Committee for publication in the Academy Newsletter to be highlighted during the AAOS 2003, New Orleans Meeting.
Presentation: Podium presentation at Mid America Orthopaedic Society Meeting, Hilton Head, North Carolina, April 2003.
Presentation: Poster Presentation at AOA Resident 2002 Meeting, Memphis, Tennessee.
Presentation: Podium presentation at the Kansas Orthopaedic Society Meeting, September 2002. Placed first in research competition.
Presentation: Medical and Graduate Student Research Forum 2002, 2003 - Presented the above research during a general audience research presentation day at the University of Kansas Medical Center, which encompassed research from all faculties on the campus.
Presentation: Mid-Central States Orthopaedic Society Meeting, Kansas City. June 12-15, 2003. Podium presentation. Winner of the Henry Marsh Research Award, and Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Award for best resident research
Orthopaedic Total Joint Research: Biomechanical research identifying porosity at the femoral stem centralizer and its relationship with subsidence. Preparing for publication and presentations. In coordination with Dr. David McQueen and Orthopaedic Research Institute.
Orthopaedic Oncology Case Report, Research and Presentation
Honors Pathology and Project presented during Pathology Grand Rounds. Selected for Honors Pathology from top pathology grades 1995. Case Report of Nonepiphyseal Giant Cell Tumor with Atypia. Fall 1995 through Spring 1997. Correspondence with Dr. Joseph Mirra, author of Bone Tumors. Director Orthopedic Pathology. Orthopedic Hospital, Los Angeles, CA.
Orthopaedic Anatomy Review Manuel
Anatomy review for Orthopedic In-Training Examination and cadaver dissection.
CLINICAL STUDY: A Prospective, Randomized, Intra-Patient Controlled, Multi. Center Clinical Investigation Evaluating OSTEOAMP SELECT Fibers Versus INFUSE Bone Graft as an Autograft Substitute in Lumbar Fusion Procedures.
Title of Project: A Retrospective, clinical case study evaluating whether NPO Status affects length of stay in patient undergoing an Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
Procedures
At Kansas Joint & Spine Specialists, we're committed to providing the most advanced orthopaedic care. Our state-of-the-art robotic technology offers a new era of precision and efficiency. By harnessing the power of robotics, we can deliver minimally invasive procedures, faster recovery times, and superior outcomes.
Mako SmartRoboticsTM Technology
Mako is an innovative robotic system designed to improve the accuracy and precision of knee and hip replacement surgeries. Utilizing advanced 3D imaging and surgical planning, Mako allows for personalized treatment plans, accurate placement during surgery, and less tissue damage.
ROSA® Knee Robotic Technology
ROSA Knee is a state-of-the-art robotic assistant that guides surgeons throughout the knee replacement. During the procedure, ROSA helps optimize implant placement while minimizing surgical risks.
Mazor XTM Spine Surgery
Leading the way in advanced spine surgery, we're the first in the region to utilize the Mazor X Stealth™ Edition robotic guidance platform. This allows us to perform minimally invasive procedures with precision, ensuring optimal outcomes for patients with conditions of the lumbar spine.