Biography

Dr. Mark Prasarn is a Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. He also serves as Director of the Spine Trauma service for the department.

Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Dr. Prasarn specializes in the surgical care of complex spinal disorders and Orthopedic Trauma with an emphasis in spinal trauma and tumors, degenerative spinal disorders, revision spinal surgery, complex fractures, and non-unions

Dr. Prasarn received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He attended Medical School at NYU School of Medicine and completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Miami – Jackson Memorial Hospital. He then went on to complete a fellowship in Orthopedic Trauma at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Prasarn completed an additional fellowship in Spinal Surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center and was a visiting fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Institute.

Dr. Prasarn is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Orthopedic Trauma Association, the North American Spine Society, and the American Spinal Cord Injury Association. Dr. Prasarn has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on spine trauma, the degenerative spine, pelvic fractures, non-unions, and other complex fractures. Dr. Prasarn is the Spine Surgeon Consultant for both the University of Houston athletic programs and the Houston Texans.

Education

Undergraduate Degree
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Medical School
NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York
Internship
University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida
Residency
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida
Fellowship
Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
Fellowship
Spine Fellowship, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
Visiting Fellow
MD Anderson Cancer Institute, Houston, Texas

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

Surgical care of complex spinal disorders
Orthopedic Trauma
Spinal trauma and tumors
Degenerative spinal disorders
Revision spinal surgery
Complex fractures
Nonunions

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

Journal Articles

Araghi A, Prasarn M.L., St Clair S, Zuckerman JD. “Recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability with onset after forty years of age: The role of the anterior mechanism.” Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 2005; 62(3-4): 99-100.

Araghi A, Prasarn M.L., St Clair S, Zuckerman JD. “Revision anterior shoulder repair for recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability.” Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 2005; 62(3-4): 102-104.

Badman BL, Mighell M, Kalandiak SP, Prasarn M.L. ”Proximal humeral nonunions treated with fixed-angle locked plating and an intramedullary strut allograft.” J Orthop Trauma. 2009; 23(3): 173-177.

Prasarn ML, Ouellette EA, Livingstone A, Giuffrida A. “Acute pediatric upper extremity compartment syndrome in the absence of fracture.” J Pediatr Orthop. 2009; 29(3): 263 -268.

Prasarn ML, Zych GA, Ostermann PA. “Wound management for severe open fractures: The use of antibiotic bead pouches and wound VACs.” American Journal of Orthopedics. 2009; 38(11): 559-563.

Prasarn ML, Achor T, Ahn J, Matuszewski P, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. “Management of infected femoral nonunions with a single-staged protocol utilizing internal fixation.” Injury. 2009; 40(11): 1220-1225.

Ahn J, de Gorter DJJ, Prasarn ML, Helfet DL, Kloen P. “Modulation of bone morphogenetic protein antagonists to simulate clinical osteogenesis. Bioscience Hypothesis. August 2009 (EPub).

Prasarn ML, Ouellette EA, Miller D. “Infected nonunions of diaphyseal fractures of the forearm.” Archives of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery. 2010; 130(7): 867-873.

Oh LS, Lewis PB, Prasarn ML, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. “Painless, isolated lateral compartment syndrome of the leg: An unusual triad of atypical findings.” American Journal of Orthopedics. 2010; 39(1): 35-39.

Prasarn ML, Daegl M, Achor T, Ahn J, Klinger C, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. “The effect of entry point on malreduction and iatrogenic fracture with the lateral entry femoral nail.” J Orthop Trauma. 2010; 24(4): 224-9.

Miller A, Prasarn ML, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. “The radiographic evaluation of acetabular fractures in the elderly.” JBJS (Br). 2010; 92-B: 560-4.

Prasarn ML, Achor T, Omesh P, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. “Management of nonunions of the proximal humeral diaphysis.” Injury. 2010; 41: 1244-8.

Prasarn ML, Miller A, Dyke J, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. “Arterial anatomy of the talus: A cadaver and Gadolinium-enhanced MRI study.” Foot Ankle Int. 2010; 31: 987-93.

Prasarn ML, Ahn J, Omesh P, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. “Dual plating of extra-articular distal humerus fractures.” J Orthop Trauma. 2011; 25: 57-63.

Prasarn ML, Ouellete EA. “Acute compartment syndrome of the upper extremity.” J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2011; 19: 49-58.

Miller A, Prasarn ML, Dyke J, Helfet DL, Lorich DG. “Quantitative assessment of the vascularity of the talus using gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011; 93: 1116-21.

Prasarn ML, Conrad BP, Ruberty PT, Wendling A, Aydog T, Horodyski MB, Rechtine, GR. “Comparison of four airway devices on cervical spine alignment in a cadaver model with global ligamentous instability at C5-6.” Spine. 2012; 37(6): 476-81.

Prasarn ML, Baria D, Milne T, Latta LL, Sukovich W. “Adjacent level biomechanics following single versus multi-level cervical spine fusion.” Journal of Neurosurgery Spine. 2012; 16(2): 172-7.

Prasarn ML, Zhou H, Conrad BP, Del Rossi GL, Debose D, Horodyski MB, Rechtine GR “Total Motion Generated in the Unstable Thoracolumbar Spine During Management of the Trauma Patient: A Comparison of Methods in a Cadaver Model.” Journal of Neurosurgery Spine. 2012; 37(11):937-42.

Prasarn ML, Martin E, Schreck M, Wright J, Westesson PL, Morgan T, Rechtine GR. “Analysis of radiation exposure to the orthopedic trauma patient during their inpatient hospitalization.” Injury. 2012; 43(6): 757-61.

Prasarn ML, Horodyski MB, Small J, Zhou H, Conrad BP, Horodyski MB, Rechtine GR “Total Motion Generated in the Unstable Cervical Spine During Management of the Trauma Patient: A Comparison of Methods in a Cadaver Model.” Spine. 2012; 37(11): 1-6.

Prasarn ML, Kloen P, Helfet DL. “The mangled extremity.” Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction. 2012; 7(2): 57-66.

Prasarn ML, Ahn J, Omesh P, Helfet DL, Lane JM, Lorich DG. “Bisphosphonate-associated femur fractures demonstrate slow healing and high complication rates with operative fixation.” Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research. 2012; 470(8): 2295-31.

Prasarn ML, Rubery PT, Small J, Zhou H, Conrad BP, Horodyski MB, Rechtine GR. “A comparison of external fixation versus the T-POD for early immobilization of unstable pelvic fractures: A cadaver study.” Journal of Trauma. 2012; 72(6): 1671-5.

Prasarn ML, Horodyski MB, Del Rossi G, Conrad BP, Rechtine GR. “Motion generated in the unstable cervical spine during application and removal of cervical immobilization collars.” Journal of Trauma. 2012; 72(6): 1609-13.

Conrad BP, Rossi GD, Horodyski MB, Prasarn ML, Alemi Y, Rechtine GR. “Eliminating log rolling as a spine trauma order.” Surgical Neurology International. 2012; 3(Supp 3): S188-97.

Prasarn ML, Zych GA, Gaski G, Kaimrajh DK, Baria D, Milne EL, Latta LL. “A biomechanical study of 4-hole pubic symphyseal plating: Locked versus unlocked versus hybrid constructs.” Orthopedics. 2012; 35(7): 1028-32.

Prasarn ML, Horodyski MB, Wright J, Rechtine GR. “Negative effects of smoking and secondary gain issues on pain and disability scores at entry into spinal care.” Surgical Neurology International. 2012; 3(5): S366-9.

Rubery PT, Brown R, Prasarn ML, Small J, Conrad B, Horodyski MB, Rechtine GR. Stabilization of 2-column thoracolumbar fractures with orthoses: a cadaver model. Spine. 2013; 1:38(5): E270-5.

Behrend C, Prasarn ML, Coyne E, Horodyski MB, Wright J, Rechtine GR. “Smoking cessation related to improved patient-related pain scores following spine care.” J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012; 94(23): 2161-6.

Martin E, Prasarn ML, Coyne, E, Giordano B, Morgan T, Westessen PL, Wright J, Rechtine GR. “Inpatient radiation exposure in patients with spinal trauma. Spinal Cord Med. 2012; 36(2): 112-7.

Prasarn ML, Rubery PT, Small J, Zhou H, Conrad BP, Horodyski MB, Rechtine GR. “Does application positioning of the T-POD affect stability of pelvic fractures? A cadaver study.” Journal of Orthopedic Trauma. 2013; 27(5): 262-6.

Prasarn ML, Coyne E, Schreck M, Rodgers J, Rechtine GR. “Comparison of Image Quality and Radiation Exposure from C-arm Fluoroscopes when Used for Imaging the Spine.” Spine. April 2013 (EPUB).

Prasarn ML, Conrad BP, Small J, Horodyski MB, Rechtine GR. “Comparison of Circumferential Pelvic Sheeting versus the T-POD on Unstable Pelvic Injuries: A Cadaveric Study of Stability.” Injury. July 2013 (EPUB).

Conrad BP, Marchese D, Horodyski MB, Del Rossi G, Prasarn ML, Rechtine GR. “Motion in the unstable spine when spineboarding a prone patient.” Accepted to Journal of Athletic Training.

Prasarn ML, Ahn J, Omesh P, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. “Acute compartment syndrome in patients with tibia fractures transferred for definitive fracture care.” Accepted to American Journal of Orthopedics.

Prasarn ML, Horodyski MB, Del Rossi G, Konopka G, Conrad BP, Rechtine GR. “Motion generated in the unstable upper cervical spine during the head tilt–chin lift and jaw thrust maneuvers.” Accepted to The Spine Journal.

Book Chapters

Prasarn ML, Kloen P, Helfet Dl. Pelvic and Acetabular Nonunions, In: Concepts and Cases in Nonunion Treatment. Marti RK, Kloen P. Stuttgart and Thieme, New York, NY. 2011.

Prasarn ML, Kloen P, Helfet Dl. Intra-articular Proximal Tibial Nonunions, In: Concepts and Cases in Nonunion Treatment. Marti RK, Kloen P. Stuttgart and Thieme, New York, NY. 2011.

Prasarn ML, Werner CL, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. Ankle Fractures, In: Foot and Ankle in Sports Medicine. Altchek DW. Lipincott Williams & Wilkins. New York, NY. In press.

Prasarn ML, Kloen P, Helfet DL. Mangled Extremity: Management in Isolated Extremity Injuries and Polytrauma, The Poly-Traumatized Patient with Fractures. Pape HC, Sanders R, Borelli J. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg. 2011.

Prasarn ML, Rechtine GR. Nonoperative Management of Spinal Injuries, In: Spine Surgery: Techniques, Complications Avoidance, and Management. Benzel BC. Elsevier. Philadelphia, PA. 2012.