Dr. Vraney is a fellowship-trained, board certified orthopaedic spine surgeon. He has extensive experience and expertise in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of diseases and disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Dr. Vraney has a particular interest in degenerative conditions of the cervical and lumbar spine including disc disease and spinal stenosis. He is well-versed in the latest surgical techniques, including minimally invasive spinal surgery.
“I take a personal, interactive approach to patient care. Each patient is an individual with unique circumstances, goals, and expectations. The common denominator is the need to understand their condition, its causes, its natural history, and its treatment options. Patients are often surprised to learn that the majority of problems can be treated without surgery. The educational component of our interaction is vitally important, as it allows patients to become maximally involved with their medical decisions.”
When not taking care of patients, Dr. Vraney enjoys spending time with his wife and their two boys. His hobbies include golf, travel, home improvement tasks, and following his beloved Chicago sports teams.
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Certification Date: 9/2002 Expiration Date: 12/31/2022
Medical Education
1998–1999 University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado Fellowship – Orthopaedic Spinal Surgery
1994–1998 University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
1993–1994 University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois General Surgery Internship
1989–1993 University of Illinois College of Medicine, Champaign and Peoria, Illinois Doctor of Medicine
1985–1989 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology
Honors
Alpha Omega Alpha, 1992
James Scholar (Honors Program Based upon Academic Achievement and Research)
General Assembly Scholarship, 1991–1992
Harlan Buckby Medical Scholarship (Sigma Chi Fraternity)
University of Michigan
Branstrom Freshman Prize (Top 5% of Freshman Class)
Class Honors (Dean’s List) Seven Semesters
Balfour Award (Outstanding Senior, Sigma Chi Fraternity)
Graduate of High Distinction
Teaching Appointments/Presentations
3/2005 Bone Graft Extenders and Substitutes Presented as Member of Teaching Faculty First Annual Emerging Technologies in Spine Surgery Telluride, Colorado
6/2001 Cervical Spine Disorders Presented as Member of Teaching Faculty University of Chicago Primary Care Orthopaedics Course Chicago, Illinois
10/2000 Central and Juxta-Endplate Vertebral Body Screw Placement: A Biomechanical Analysis in a Human Cadaveric Model Paper Presentation Also Presented at the Scoliosis Research Society 35th Annual Meeting, Cairns, Australia
10/1999 Biomechanics of Anterior vs. Posterior Plating of the Occipitocervical Junction Poster Presentation Also Presented at the Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington An Algorithm for Treatment of Deformity of the Craniocervical Junction Poster Presentation Radiographic and Biomechanical Analysis of Multilevel Smith-Robinson vs. Corpectomy Reconstruction of the Cervical Spine: A Human Cadaveric Model Paper Presentation
10/1997 Peridiscal Vascular Anatomy of the Lumbar Spine: An Endoscopic Perspective Presented at the North American Spine Society Annual Meeting New York, New York
3/1996 Intra- and Inter-observer Variations of Ankle Fracture Classifications Presented at 54th annual Scientific Seminar of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons New Orleans, Louisiana
3/1997 Intra- and Inter-observer Variations of Ankle Fracture Classifications Presented at American Orthopaedic Association Residents’ Conference New York, New York
2/1993 Retrograde Transurethral Thermal Ablation of the Prostate as a Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy in a Canine Model Presented at the International Meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiologists New Orleans, Louisiana
