About
Dr. David Strothman, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
What drew me to orthopedic spine surgery as a medical specialty was my desire to be able to help. The beauty of orthopedics is that it’s very direct and hands-on. I have the opportunity to take a problem, correct it, and help people get better. Getting to make a material difference in people’s lives is so rewarding.
Problems of the spine are complex, and people are often in a lot of discomfort. Their spine problems are having a big impact on their quality of life. I like being able to work through the complexity of their symptoms, their imaging, and their exam to figure out why they are having this degree of disability or pain and to come up with a solution that enables them to get back to living a healthy and active life. Patients can have a night-and-day difference in their symptoms, and it’s very gratifying and fun to be part of those transformations for people.
Spine Conditions Dr. Strothman Treats
As a spine specialist, I focus on the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar (the neck, middle, and lower back). I perform decompressions, discectomies, disc replacements, and fusions to treat a variety of wear-and-tear conditions like stenosis, disc degeneration, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis, as well as adult scoliosis.
I have a particular skill set in minimally invasive lumbar spine procedures, particularly decompressions. A minimally invasive decompression accomplishes the same goal of decompressing the nerves, but it’s done through a two-centimeter skin incision and does less damage to the surrounding muscle, bone, and other tissues.
Dr. Strothman’s Approach to Patient Care
My first job is to try to understand why patients are here, what their problem is, and what they’re looking for. It’s very important to talk with the patient and get a detailed history, because there are very distinct patterns of symptoms that can help me to understand what’s really causing a person’s pain and discomfort. Often, you can get 80% of the way to a correct diagnosis just by listening. So, I aim to be thorough. My team and I review imaging in-person with patients, so they can actually see where the problem is. We discuss potential solutions, and we do our best to offer the least invasive, most conservative treatments first, holding off on surgery unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Summit is unusual in that we have both surgical and nonsurgical spine specialists within our practice, so we can really provide people the best option for their specific situation. I’m proud to be part of an orthopedic practice that offers truly comprehensive care, which is not something other practices can say.
Specialties
Conditions We Treat
Common Treatments
Other
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Spine Disorders
- Adult Scoliosis
Locations
My Team
My Team
At Summit, each physician works alongside a team of professionals to care for you, our patient.
Additional Information About Dr. David H Strothman
Education, Memberships, & Awards
Education
Fellowship
Orthopedic Spine
Twin Cities Spine Center — Minneapolis, MN
Residency
University of Minnesota Department of Orthopaedics — Minneapolis, MN
Medical School
University of Minnesota Medical School — Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate Studies
Connecticut College — New London, CT
Professional Memberships
- Minnesota Orthopaedic Society (MOS)
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
- Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS)
- North American Spine Society (NASS)
Awards
Certifications
- Board Certified: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Publications
- Strothman D, Templeman D, Varecka T, Bechtold J. Retrograde Nailing of Humeral Shaft Fractures: A Biomechanical Study on Its Effects on the Strength of the Distal Humerus. Journal of Orthopedic Trauma 2000;14:101-104.
- Van Heest, AE and Strothman D. 2009. Wrist arthrodesis in cerebral palsy. J Hand Surg Am. 34:1216-1224.
- 2011 Strothman DH, Schwender JD: “Ch.57 – Minimally Invasive Posterior Lumbar Instrumentation” IN Rothman-Smeone: The Spine. Edited by: Harry N. Herkowitz, MD, Steven R. Garfin, MD, Frank J. Eismont, MD, Gordon R. Bell, MD and Richard A. Balderston, MD. Published by Copyright © by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc 2011.
- 2011 Strothman DH, Schwender JD: “Ch. 53 – Mini-Open (Wiltse Approach) Decompression/Fusion” IN Advanced Reconstruction: Spine, Edited by Jeffrey C. Wang, MD. Published by AAOS 2011.
Resources
Patient Education
Spine Animated Conditions and Treatments Library
Reviews
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06/24/2026
Reviews
