Dr. Kondrashov will be leaving the practice August 2024. Existing patients can follow care with Dr. Nelles and Dr. Hsu.
San Francisco Spine Surgeons

Dr. Ken
Hsu

Ken Hsu, M.D.

Ken Y. Hsu, M.D. San Francisco Bay Area

Dr. Ken Hsu received his medical degree at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in 1976, and completed a 1-year internship at Loma Linda Medical Center. Following this he finished a 2-year general surgery residency at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco and a 4-year orthopaedic residency at the San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, where he has continued to serve as a faculty member for nearly two and a half decades since his graduation. Following his residency, Dr. Hsu completed a fellowship in Spine and Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Hong Kong, one of the premiere centers of surgical spine care at that time.

Ken Hsu has been the President of San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group since 2003 and a director of spine services at St. Mary’s Spine Center since 1988.

Dr. Hsu is world-renowned as a co-inventor of the X-STOP device, a minimally invasive surgical solution for patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis and the first Interspinous Decompression Device (IPD) to be approved by FDA for use in the United States. X-STOP has started an era of Interspinous Process Decompression both in the US and in the rest of the world. He presented at numerous national and international conferences on the topics of spine surgery and the X-STOP procedure. Dr. Hsu has also authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in surgical textbooks.

Ken Hsu was among the first spine surgeons to use pedicle screw fixation of the spine in the Western United States. Well-known for his astuteness and unique humor, Dr. Hsu has participated in numerous clinical trials of spine surgical devices, including X-STOP, Flexicore and Prodisc lumbar total disc replacement and Cervicore cervical total disc replacement.

Publications

  • “The Use of an Interspinous Implant in Conjunction with a Graded Facetectomy Procedure,” Paul F. Fuchs, Derek P. Lindsey, Ken Hsu, James F. Zucherman, Scott A. Yerby, Spine, Vol. 30, No. 11, p1266-1272, 2005.
  • “A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Trial Evaluating the X-Stop Interspinous Process Decompression System for the Treatment of Neurogenic Intermittent Claudication: Two-Year Follow-up Results,” J.F. Zucherman, Ken Hsu, C.A. Hartjen, T.F. Mehalic, D.A. Implicito, M.J. Martin, D.R. Johnson II, G.A. Skidmore, P.P. Vessa, J.W. Dwyer, S. Puccio, J.C. Cauthen, R.M. Ozuna, Spine, Vol. 30, No, 12, p1351-1358, 2005.
  • “A Prospective Randomized Multi-Center Study for the Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with the X-Stop Interspinous Implant: 1-Year Results,” J.F. Zucherman, Ken Hsu, C.A. Hartjen, T.F. Mehalic, D.A. Implicito, M.J. Martin, D.R. Johnson II, G.A. Skidmore, P.P. Vessa, J.W. Dwyer, S. Puccio, J.C. Cauthen, R.M. Ozuna, European Spine Journal, Vol. 13, No. 1, p22-31, 2004.
  • “The X-Stop, Interspinous Process Distraction for Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Spine and Spinal Cord, Japan, January 2003.
  • “The Effect of an Interspinous Implant on Intervertebral Disc Pressures,” Kyle Swanson, D.P. Lindsey, Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Scott Yerby. Spine, Vol. 28, No. 1, p26-32, 2003.
  • “The X-Stop Interspinous Implant Improves Physical Function in Lumbar Stenosis Patients,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Charles Hartsen, Thomas Mehalic, et al., Abstract, International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, May 2003.
  • “The Quality of Life of Lumbar Stenosis Patients Treated with the X-Stop Interspinous Spacer,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Charles Hartten, et al. The Spine Journal/Proceedings of the North American Spine Society 18th Annual Meeting. September/October 2003.
  • “The Effect of an Interspinous Implant on the Kinematics of the Instrumented and Adjacent Levels in the Lumbar Spine,” Derek Lindsey, Kyle Swanson, Paul Fuchs, Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Scott Yerby. Spine, Vol. 28, No. 19, p2192-2197, 2003.
  • “Gadopentate Dimeglumine as an Intradiscal Contrast Agent,” Timothy Huang, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Michael Shapiro, Daniel Lentz, John Gartland. Spine, Vol. 27, No. 8, p839-843, 2002.
  • “The Effect of an Interspinous Spacer on the Intradiscal Stress of the Adjacent and Levels Treated,” Kyle E. Swanson, D.P. Lindsey, Ken Y. Hsu, James F. Zucherman, Scott A. Yerby. Trans. International Meeting on Advanced Techniques, 2002.
  • “The Treatment of Lumbar Intermittent Neurogenic Claudication with an Interspinous Spacer: One Year Results,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Charles Hartjen, Thomas Mehalic, Michael Martin, Dante Implicito. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, May 2002.
  • “The New Surgical Treatment for Lumbar Spine Stenosis,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, -Abstract, The 9th Spine Frontier Meeting, Hokkaido, Japan, August 2002.
  • “Surgical Management of Spondylogenic Thoracic Pain Syndrome,” Leonel Hunt, Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, -Abstract, Western Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting, August 2002.
  • “Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis With an Interspinous Spacer,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Charles Hartjen, Thomas Mehalic, Dante Implicito, Michael Martin. North American Spine Society – Abstracts, October 2002.
  • “The Sten-X for Treatment of Spinal Stenosis, Minimally Invasive Technique,” Ken Hsu—Abstracts, The 7th Hands-On Cadaver Workshop on Skull Base and Spine, Aichi, Japan, May 2001.
  • “BMP Induced Interbody Fusion of the Rabbit Spine,” A. N. Shamie, James Zucherman, Mark Drzala, Ken Hsu, Susan Bailey, D. Chang, J. Roche, Proceedings International BMP Conference 2000, Lake Tahoe, California, July 2000.
  • “Follow-Up Evaluation of Resected Lumbar Vertebral Chordoma Over 11 Years, a Case Report,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Norval Mortensen, James Johnston, John Gartland. Spine, Vol. 25, No. 19, p2537-2540, 2000.
  • “Complication Management of BAK Interbody Cages,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Dante Implicito. Revision Spinal Surgery, Edited by Joseph Y. Margulies, et al., C.V. Mosby, St. Louis, Missouri, 1999.
  • “Percutaneous Cervical Discectomy,” Mark Drzala, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu. North American Spine Society – Abstracts, October 1998.
  • “Reliability of Computerized Motion Analysis as a Detector of Significant Lumbar Disc Pathology,” Megumi Itoi, Y. Hirasawa, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Erica Gould. Proceedings of the Eighth World Congress of International Rehabilitation Medicine Association, Kyoto, Japan, September 1997.
  • “Spine Surgery for the Next Millennium,” Ken Hsu, spine-dr.com, December 1997.
  • “Complications of Transpedicle Spine Fixation,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Martin Krag. The Lumbar Spine, Second Edition. The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1996.
  • “Disc Space Geometry as a Predictor of Fusion Solidity of BAK Interbody Implants,” Dante Implicito, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, July 1996.
  • “Endoscopy of the Lumbar Spine,” James Zucherman, Dante Implicito, Ken Hsu. Endoscopic Neurosurgery, Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., New York, New York, 1996.
  • “Anatomic Position of a Herniated Nucleus Pulposus Predicts the Outcome of Lumbar Discectomy,” Barbara Knopp-Jergas, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Bradford Delong. Journal of Spine Disorders, Vol. 9, No. 3, p246-250. Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1996.
  • “Instrumented Transperitoneal Laparoscopic Fusion,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Dante Implicito. Lumbosacral and Spinopelvic Fixation, Edited by Joseph Y. Margulies, et al., Chapter 45, p579-585. Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1996.
  • “Lumbar Intraspinal Synovial and Ganglion Cysts (Facet Cysts): Ten Year Experience in Evaluation and Treatment,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, William Shea, Robert Jeffrey. Spine, Vol. 20, No. 1, p80-89, 1995.
  • “Instrumented Laparoscopic Spinal Fusion, Preliminary Results,” James Zucherman, Thomas Zdeblick, Susan Bailey, David Mahvi, Ken Hsu, Doug Kohrs. Spine, Vol. 20, No. 18 p2029-2034, 1995.
  • “Recurrent Same-Level Lumbar Disc Herniation: Analysis of Predisposing Factors,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Thomas Kim, Bradford Delong, Judy Silverman. Proceedings of North American Spine Society, Tenth Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., October 1995.
  • “Bone Grafts and Implants,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Arthur White. Chapter 63, p870-890, Spine Care – Mosby Yearbook, Inc., 1995.
  • “The Anatomic Position of Disc Herniation Predicts the Clinical Outcome of Lumbar Discectomy,” Barbara M. Knopp-Jergas, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Bradford Delong. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Poster Exhibit
  • “Lumbar Intraspinal Synovial and Ganglion Cysts: Ten-Year Experience in Evaluation and Treatment,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, William Shea, Robert Jeffrey. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, June 1993.
  • “Dynamic Contrast Radiography in Degenerative Cervical and Lumbar Disease,” Michael Martin, James Zucherman, William Shea, Ken Hsu. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Poster Exhibit, June 1993.
  • “The Myth of Solid Posterior Lateral Fusion,” James Zucherman, Steven Brack, Ken Hsu, William Shea. Lumbar Fusion and Stabilization, Chapter 1.2, p10-15. K. Yonenobu, K. Ono, Y. Takemitsu (Eds.), Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1993.
  • “The Long-Term Effect of Lumbar Spine Fusion: Deterioration of Adjacent Motion Segments,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Arthur White. Lumbar Fusion and Stabilization, Chapter 2.4, p54-64. K. Yonenobu, K. Ono, Y. Taketmitsu (Eds.), Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1993.
  • “Steroid Response and Duration of Radicular Pain as a Predictor of Surgical Outcomes,” Richard Derby, Garrett Kine, Katy Murphy, James Reynolds, Noel Goldthwaite, Arthur White, Ken Hsu, James Zucherman. Spine, June 1992.
  • “Clinical Efficacy of Spinal Instrumentation in Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, George Picetti, Arthur White, Gar Wynne, Lloyd Taylor. Spine, Vol. 17, No. 7, p834-836, 1992.
  • “Demineralized Allograft in Posterior Lateral Fusion – Clinical Efficacy in a Prospective Study,” James Zucherman, Steven Brack, Ken Hsu, Gary Levengood. International Society of for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, May 1991.
  • “Demineralized Allograft in Posterior Lateral Fusion – Clinical Efficacy in a Prospective Study,” James Zucherman, Steven Brack, Ken Hsu, Gary Levengood. North American Spine Society – Abstracts, August 1991.
  • “Calcified Lumbar Disc Herniations,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Scot Miller, William Shea. North American Spine Society – Abstracts, August 1991.
  • “Unusual Clinical Features in Multi-Level Disc Degeneration in the Second and Third Decades, Associated Structural Abnormalities,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Arthur Schuller. North American Spine Society – Abstracts, August 1991.
  • “The Hip and Back Syndrome – An Algorithm for Evaluation and Treatment,” William A. McGann, Ken Y. Hsu. Ortho News, St. Mary’s Hospital, Winter 1991.
  • “Single Plane Midline Flexion Extension Lateral Tomogram as a Method for Evaluating the Integrity of Lumbar Spine Fusion,” Jeff Kanel, James Zucherman, William Shea, Ken Hsu. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, June 1990.
  • 23 “High Lumbar Disc Degeneration: Incidence and Etiology,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Spine, Vol. 15, No. 7 p679-682, 1990.
  • “Sympathetically Mediated Pain Disorders of the Lumbar Spine,” James Zucherman, James Dwyer, Ken Hsu, Linda Rasmussen, Jerome Schofferman, Arthur Schuller. North American Spine Society – Abstracts, August 1990.
  • “Metabolic Bone Disease in Pseudarthrosis,” Jerome Schofferman, Leslie Schofferman, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Arthur White. Spine, Vol. 15, No. 7 p687-689, 1990.
  • “Myth of the Solid Posterior Fusion,” Stephen Brack, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, William Shea. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, June 1990.
  • “Usefulness of Short-Acting Barbiturate Examination in Evaluation Patients with Complex Lumbar Pain Syndromes,” James Zucherman, Richard Derby, Ken Hsu. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, June 1990.
  • “Sympathetically Mediated Pain Disorders of the Lumbar Spine,” James Zucherman, James Dwyer, Ken Hsu, Linda Rasmussen, Jerome Schofferman, Arthur Schuller, Richard Derby, Susan Bailey. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, June 1990.
  • “Cervical Epidural Corticosteroid Injection in Degenerative Disease,” Richard Derby, James Zucherman, George Picetti, Ken Hsu, Arthur White, Gar Wynne. North American Spine Society – Abstracts, July 1989.
  • “Clinical Efficacy of Spinal Instrumentation in Lumbar Degenerative Disease,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Gar Wynne, Arthur White. North American Spine Society – Abstracts, July 1989.
  • “Pseudarthrosis of the Lumbar Spine: Origin of Pain and Treatment,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Jerome Schofferman. Internal Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, May 1989.
  • “Clinical Efficacy of Spine Instrumentation in Lumbar Degenerative Disease,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, George Picetti, Gar Wynne, Arthur White. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, May 1989.
  • “Operative Confirmation of Disco-CT Findings,” William Shea, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Ron Hood. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, May 1989.
  • “High Lumbar Disc Degeneration: Incidence and Etiology,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Arthur White. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, May 1989.
  • “Deterioration of Motion Segments Adjacent to Lumbar Spine Fusions,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Arthur White, Noel Goldthwaite. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, April 1988.
  • “Occult Infections Causing Persistent Low Back Pain,” Leslie Schofferman, Jerome Schofferman, James Zucherman, Helen Gunthorpe, Ken Hsu, George Picetti, Noel Goldthwaite, Arthur White. Spine Vol. 14, No. 4, 1989.
  • “Diptheroid and Associated Infections as a Cause of Failed Lumbar Instrumentation Procedures,” James Zucherman, Leslie Schofferman, Helen Gunthorpe, Ken Hsu, Arthur White. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, April 1988.
  • “Painful Lumbar Endplate Disruptions: A Significant Discogenic Finding,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Richard Derby, Arthur White. Spine Vol. 13, No. 1, April 1988.
  • “Early Experience with Variable Spine Plating System,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Arthur White, Gar Wynne. Spine Vol. 13, No. 5, September 1988.
  • “Early Results and Complications Using Variable Spine Plating Internal Fixation,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Arthur White, Gar Wynne. North American Spine Society Annual Meeting – Abstracts, June, 1987.
  • “Early Results and Complications Using Variable Spine Plating Internal Fixation,” James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Gar Wynne. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine – Abstracts, May , 1987.
  • “Internal Fixation with Pedicle Screws,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Arthur White. Lumbar Spine Surgery, Chapter 13, p322, C.V. Mosby Co., St. Louis, Missouri, 1987.
  • “Bone Grafts and Implants in Spine Surgery,” Ken Hsu, James Zucherman, Arthur White. Lumbar Spine Surgery, Chapter 39, p434, C.V. Mosby Co., St. Louis, Missouri, 1987.
  • “Failed Posterior Spine Surgery,” Arthur White, Ken Hsu. Lumbar Spine Surgery, Chapter 13, p322, C.V. Mosby Co., St. Louis, Missouri, 1987.
  • “Lumbosacral Fusion with Harrington Rods and Intersegmental Wiring,” Arthur White, James Zucherman, Ken Hsu. Clin. Ortho. Rel. Research 203:185, February 1986.
  • “Severe Scoliosis Associated with Fibrodysplacia Ossificans Progressiva:, Louis Hsu, Ken Hsu, John Leong. Spine Vol. 11, 36 p643. 1986.
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