Patrick J. Cahill, MD

male silhouette icon
Patrick J. Cahill, MD, is an attending physician in the Division of Orthopaedics and the Robert M. Campbell Jr. Endowed Chair in Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of Expertise: Disorders of the Pediatric spine, Cervical spine, Fractures of the spine
Locations: Main Campus; Specialty Care & Surgery Center, Bucks County

Appointments and Referrals: 1-800-TRY-CHOP (1-800-879-2467)

Background

Patrick Cahill, MD, is a pediatric spine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Robert M. Campbell Jr. Endowed Chair in Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome. Dr. Cahill’s practice is centered around treating disorders of the spine, including adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, Scheuermann’s kyphosis, infantile scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis, complex congenital anomalies of the spine, spondylolisthesis, fractures of the spine, cervical spine disorders, and growth modulation solutions to spinal deformity.  

Dr. Cahill is passionate about caring for children with early-onset scoliosis and finding new ways to utilize less invasive methods to management, maximizing the preservation of childhood and safety in treatment options. Although infantile scoliosis is rare, Dr. Cahill has extensive experience in treating this condition. In keeping with the original principles of Mehta casting, Dr. Cahill strives to maximize the effects of treatment while minimizing unnecessary medical exposures during care. He developed a program that seeks to lessen the need for anesthesia use in young children during critical phases of brain development.

If spine conditions can no longer be managed with casting or bracing alternatives, Dr. Cahill continues to adhere to his philosophy of providing conscientious care. In 2014 and after FDA approval for use in the United States, Dr. Cahill was the first pediatric spine surgeon in this country to use a magnetically expandable growing rod for care of early-onset scoliosis. He continues to be one of the leading physicians pioneering new technology. Some spine, lung and chest wall conditions are so severe that life-saving surgical measures are required, which do not afford the use of externally controlled lengthening devices. A specialized, multidisciplinary team of health providers deliver complex care to these patients as part of the Center for Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome. Dr. Cahill is a Co-Director of this team in collaboration with pulmonology, anesthesia, physical therapy, nutrition, genetics, and general surgery.

In addition to caring for the very young patient with scoliosis, Dr. Cahill is an expert and innovator in the field of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. He has spent his career exploring and researching non-invasive or minimally invasive fusionless options to modify growth for the management of scoliosis, including bracing options and procedures like thoracoscopic vertebral body stapling. He continues to investigate the potential for alternatives to posterior spinal fusion, but has also been central to research and process improvement initiatives involving spinal fusion.

In addition to supporting the spine care innovations at CHOP (Rapid Recovery Pathway and Dedicated Spine Teams), Dr. Cahill has an interest in merging technology with the art of medicine, using 3D reconstructions and printing to provide safety guides and tools to assist in surgical planning and execution. He is a member of the Scoliosis Research Society, North American Spine Society, Chest Wall and Spine Deformity Study Group, Harms Study Group, Fox Study Group, and Pediatric Cervical Spine Study Group.

Although the neck is part of the spine, many spine specialists do not specialize in cervical spine deformity. Dr. Cahill is one of the few Spine Fellowship Trained Surgeons practicing in a pediatric spine center, giving him added insight and extensive experience in complex cervical spine disorders, including fractures and instability of vertebrae. 

Whether a condition is related to uncomplicated scoliosis or rare disorders of the spine, patients travel from all over the country to obtain world-class care from CHOP. If you would like Dr. Cahill to give an opinion or provide care for your child, our CHOP Orthopaedics Nurse Navigator Maribeth Magarity, RN, can coordinate care and travel arrangements to assist in streamlined access to the high level of care and excellence that CHOP and Dr. Cahill have to offer.  

As a lifelong sports enthusiast, Dr. Cahill routinely defeats his orthopaedic partners in tennis, bikes fanatically with little regard for inclement weather, and will play soccer anytime, anywhere. His favorite team is Manchester United, but he shows local Union pride as well. He also enjoys camping and skiing with his lovely wife and three beautiful children.

Education and Training

Medical School

MD - University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL

Residency

Orthopaedic Surgery - Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL

Fellowship

Rush Spine Surgery Fellowship Program - Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, in Chicago, IL

Board Certification

Orthopaedic Surgery

Titles and Academic Titles

Attending Physician

Robert M. Campbell Jr. Endowed Chair in Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome

Conditions Treated

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2020

Anari JB, Baldwin KD, Flynn JM, Cahill PJ. What's Important: Managing the Impact of Coronavirus on Pediatric Spine Surgery [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 11]. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2020;10.2106/JBJS.20.00641. doi:10.2106/JBJS.20.00641

2017

Iorio J, Orlando G, Diefenbach C, Gaughan JP, Samdani AF, Pahys JM, Betz RR, Cahill PJ. Serial casting for infantile idiopathic scoliosis: Radiographic outcomes and factors associated with response to treatment. J Pediatr Orthop. 2017;37(5):311-316.

LaGreca J, Flynn T, Cahill PJ, Samdani A, Vitale MG, El-Hawary R, Smith JT, Phillips JH, Flynn JM, Glotzbecker M, Garg S; Children's Spine Study Group. Patients without intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) alerts during VEPTR implantation did not sustain neurological injury during subsequent routine expansions: A retrospective multicenter cohort study. J Pediatr Orthop. 2017;37(8):e619-e624.

Nossov SB, Curatolo E, Campbell RM, Mayer OH, Garg S, Cahill PJ. Children's Spine Study Group. VEPTR: Are we reducing respiratory assistance requirements? [Published online ahead of print April 10, 2017] J Pediatr Orthop.  

2016

Antiel RM, Riley JS, Cahill PJ, Campbell RM, Waqar L, Herkert LM, Rintoul NE, Peranteau WH, Flake AW, Adzick NS, Hedrick HL. Management and outcomes of scoliosis in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. J Pediatr Surg. 2016;51(12):1921-1925. 

2015

Cuddihy L, Danielsson AJ, Cahill PJ, Samdani AF, Grewal H, Richmond JM, Mulcahey MJ, Gaughan JP, Antonacci MD, Betz RR. Vertebral Body Stapling versus Bracing for Patients with High-Risk Moderate Idiopathic Scoliosis. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:438452.

Park HY, Matsumoto H, Feinberg N, Roye DP, Kanj WW, Betz RR, Cahill PJ, Glotzbecker MP, Luhmann SJ, Garg S, Sawyer JR, Smith JT, Flynn JM, Vitale MG. The Classification for Early-onset Scoliosis (C-EOS) Correlates With the Speed of Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR) Proximal Anchor Failure. J Pediatr Orthop. 2015 Nov 13.

2014

Singla A, Bennett JT, Sponseller PD, Pahys JM, Marks MC, Lonner BS, Newton PO, Miyanji F, Betz RR, Cahill PJ, Samdani AF: Results of selective thoracic vs. non-selective fusion in Lenke type 3 curves. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2014 Sep 29 [Epub ahead of print]

Singla A, Bennett JT, Sponseller PD, Pahys JM, Marks MC, Lonner BS, Newton PO, Miyanji F, Betz RR, Cahill PJ, Samdani AF: Results of selective thoracic vs. non-selective fusion in Lenke type 3 curves. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 39(24):2034-2041, November 2014.

Glotzbecker M, Johnston C, Miller P, Smith J, Perez-Grueso FS, Woon R, Flynn J, Gold M, Garg S, Redding G, Cahill P, Emans J: Is there a relationship between thoracic dimensions and pulmonary function in early onset scoliosis? Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 39(19):1590-1595, 2014.

Cahill PJ, Pahys JM, Asghar J, Yaszay B, Marks MC, Bastrom TP, Lonner BS, Shah SA, Shufflebarger HL, Newton PO, Betz RR, Samdani AF: The effect of surgeon experience on outcomes of surgery in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 96(16):1333-1339, August 2014.

Wang W, Baran GR, Betz RR, Samdani AF, Cahill PJ: The benefits of cement augmentation of pedicle screw fixation are increased in osteoporotic bone: a finite element analysis. Spine Deform 2:248-259, 2014.

Yilmaz G, Hwang S, Oto M, Kruse R, Rogers KJ, Bober MB, Cahill PJ, Shah SA: Surgical treatment of scoliosis in osteogenesis imperfecta with cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation. J Spinal Disord Tech 27(3):174-180, May 2014.

Safain M, Hwang S, King J, Cahill P, Samdani A: Loss of correction in spinal cord injury-related scoliosis after pedicle screw fixation. Childs Nerv Syst, 30(4):673-80, Apr 2014.

Hoashi JS, Samdani AF, Betz RR, Bastrom TP, Harms Study Group, Cahill PJ: Is there a “July Effect” in surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? J Bone Joint Surg Am 96(7):e55, Apr 2014.

Cahill PJ, Hoashi JS, Betz RR, Bastrom TP, Marks MC, Samdani AF, Harms Study Group: Is there a role for the five-degree rule in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? J Pediatr Orthop 34(2):194-201, Mar 2014, doi: 10.1097/BPO.0b013e3182a11ed1.

Wang W, Baran GR, Betz RR, Samdani AF, Pahys JM, Cahill PJ: The use of finite element models to assist understanding and treatment for scoliosis: a review paper. Spine Deform 2(1):10-27, Jan 2014.

2013

El-Hawary R, Sturm PF, Cahill PJ, Samdani AF, Vitale MG, Gabos PG, Bodin ND, d’Amato CR, Harris C, Howard JJ, Morris SH, Smith JT: Sagittal spinopelvic parameters of young children with scoliosis. Spine Deform  1(5):343-347, 2013.

Theologis AA, Cahill P, Auriemma M, Betz R, Diab M: Vertebral body stapling in children with idiopathic scoliosis < 10 years of age with curve magnitude 30-39 degrees. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 38(25):E1583-1588, Dec 2013.

Samdani AF, Belin EJ, Bennett JT, Pahys JM, Marks MC, Miyanji F, Shufflebarger HL, Lonner BS, Newton PO, Betz RR, Cahill PJ: Unplanned return to the operating room in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: are we doing better with pedicle screws? Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 38(21):1842-1847, Oct 1, 2013.

Hwang SW, Samdani AF, Stanton P, Marks MC, Bastrom T, Newton PO, Betz RR, Cahill PJ: Impact of pedicle screw fixation on loss of deformity correction in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Pediatr Orthop 33(4):377-82, Jun 2013.

Trobisch PD, Samdani AF, Betz RR, Bastrom TP, Pahys JM, Cahill PJ: Analysis of risk factors for loss of lumbar lordosis in patients who had surgical treatment with segmental instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Eur Spine J 22(6):1312-1316, Jun 2013.



Hoashi J, Bennett JT, Cahill PJ, Samdani AF: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis classification and treatment. Neurosurg Clin North Am 24(2):173-183, Apr 2013.

Hwang SW, Samdani AF, Lonner BS, Marks MC, Bastrom TP, Betz RR, Cahill PJ: A multicenter analysis of factors associated with change in height after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis deformity surgery in 447 patients. J Neurosurg Spine 18(3):298-302, Mar 2013.

Newton PO, Marks MC, Bastrom TP, Betz R, Clements D, Lonner B, Crawford A, Shufflebarger H, O’Brien M, Yaszay B, Harms Study Group: Surgical treatment of Lenke 1 main thoracic idiopathic scoliosis: results of a prospective, multi-center study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 38(4):328-338, Feb 15, 2013.

Books

Chapters
2014

Cahill PJ, Trobisch PD, Betz RR, Samdani AF: Adolescent scoliosis, ch. 28. In Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: Surgical Techniques and Disease Management (Phillips FM, Lieberman I, Polly Jr DW, eds.). New York: Springer, 2014, pp. 299-314.

Jain V, Lykissas MG, Trobisch P, Wall EJ, Newton PO, Sturm PJ, Cahill PJ, Bylsky-Austrow DI: Surgical aspects of spinal growth modulation in scoliosis correction, In Instructional Course Lectures, vol. 63. Rosemont IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2014, pp. 335-344.

2012

Garg H, Pahys JM, Cahill PJ: Thoracic and lumbar spine injuries, ch. 5. In Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgical Emergencies (Abzug JM & Herman MJ, eds.). Philadelphia, PA: Springer, May 2012.

2009

Cahill P and Rinella A.  Adult Scoliosis. In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 9 (Fischgrund JS, ed.). Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009.

Cahill P, Lee M, and Singh K.  Degenerative Disk Disease. In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 9 (Fischgrund JS, ed.). Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009.

Posters and Presentations

2015

Phillips L, Yaszay B, Bastrom TP, Shah SA, Lonner BS, Miyanji F, Samdani AF, Parent S, Asghar J, Cahill PJ, Newton PO: Factors predicting when L3 is not distal enough for an “ideal” result in Lenke 5 curves. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting (podium), Las Vegas, NV, March 24-28, 2015.

Cahill PJ, Pahys JM, Hayes K, Betz RR, Samdani A: Anterior/posterior surgery in cerebral palsy scoliosis: perioperative outcomes of single day vs two-stage surgery. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting (poster), Las Vegas, NV, March 24-28, 2015.

Cahill PJ, Pahys JM, van Bosse HJP, Samdani AF: Placement of bilateral magnetically activated growing rods. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting (video nominated for Orthopaedic Video Theater Award), Las Vegas, NV, March 24-28, 2015.

2014

Cahill P, Carroll C, Pahys J, Hayes K, Betz R, Samdani A: Goals and indications for surgery in severe pediatric scoliosis related to cerebral palsy. 49th Scoliosis Research Society annual meeting (ePoster), Anchorage, AL, September 10-13, 2014.

Pahys J, Cahill P, Samdani A, Asghar J, Betz R: Lower extremity paralysis presenting 36 hours after attempted posterior spinal fusion for severe scoliosis in an adolescent. 49th Scoliosis Research Society annual meeting (case discussion), Anchorage, AL, September 10-13, 2014.

Pahys J, Cahill P, Asghar J, Betz R, Samdani A: Severe cervical kyphosis and spondyloptosis in Larsen syndrome with progressive myelopathy ameliorated with decompression and fusion: a report of two cases. 49th Scoliosis Research Society annual meeting (case discussion), Anchorage, AL, September 10-13, 2014.

Samdani A, Ames R, Bastrom T, Miyanji F, Pahys J, Marks M, Lonner B, Newton P, Shufflebarger H, Betz R, Cahill P: What is different about patients with Lenke 5 curves who achieve a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in appearance? 49th Scoliosis Research Society annual meeting (podium), Anchorage, AL, September 10-13, 2014.

Samdani A, Bennett J, Singla A, Miyanji F, Lonner B, Shah S, Shufflebarger H, Asghar J, Pahys J, Marks M, Newton P, Betz R, Cahill P: Do Ponte osteotomies enhance correction in AIS? An analysis of 191 Lenke 1A and 1B curves. 21st International Meeting for Advanced Spine Techniques (2-min podium), Valencia, Spain, July 16-19, 2014.

Pahys J, Samdani A, Auriemma M, Dakwar E, Betz R, Cahill P: Failure and success in vertebral body stapling. 21st International Meeting for Advanced Spine Techniques (podium), Valencia, Spain, July 16-19, 2014.

Dakwar E, Samdani AF, Orlando G, Auriemma M, Pahys JM, Betz RR, Cahill PJ: The effect of vertebral body stapling on sagittal profile. Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (ePoster), Hollywood, CA, April 30-May 3, 2014.

Ketschek A, Spillane M, Wang W, Orlando G, Samdani A, Betz RR, Pahys J, Gallo G, Cahill PJ: A novel animal model for congenital scoliosis in chicken embryos. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting (podium), New Orleans, LA, March 11-15, 2014.

2013

Tauchi R, Tsuji T, Saito T, Nohara A, Imagama S, Joshi AP, Roye Jr DP, Glotzbecker M, Sawyer JR, Heflin JA, Flynn JM, Smith JT, Ramirez N, Cahill PJ, El-Hawary R, Kawakami N, Chest Wall & Spine Deformity Study Group: Reliability analysis of Cobb angle measurements of congenital scoliosis using x-ray and 3D CT images. 7th International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis and Growing Spine (ICEOS) (ePoster), Rancho Bernardo, CA, November 21-22, 2013.

Theologis AA, Cahill P, Auriemma M, Betz R, Diab M: Vertebral body stapling in children with idiopathic scoliosis < 10 years of age with curve magnitude 30-39 degrees. American College of Surgeons annual meeting, Washington DC, October 6-10, 2013.

Vitale MG, Matsumoto H, Park HY, McCalla D, Roye DP, Kang WW, Betz RR, Cahill PJ, Glotzbecker MP, Luhmann SJ, Garg S, Sawyer JR, Smith JT, Flynn JM: The classification for early onset scoliosis (C-EOS) predicts timing of VEPTR anchor failure. 48th annual Scoliosis Research Society meeting (ePoster), Lyon, France, September 18-21, 2013; 20th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (ePoster), Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 10-13, 2013.

Pahys J, Samdani A, Cahill P, Harms Study Group, Betz R: Does postoperative shoulder imbalance lead to adding on in posterior spinal fusion for Lenke 1A and 1B curves? 48th annual Scoliosis Research Society meeting (podium), Lyon, France, September 18-21, 2013.

Pahys J, Cahill P, Asghar J, Betz R, Harms Study Group, Samdani A: Does size matter? Comparison of 6.35mm vs. 5.5mm diameter rods for posterior spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. 48th annual Scoliosis Research Society meeting (ePoster), Lyon, France, September 18-21, 2013; 20th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (ePoster), Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 10-13, 2013.

Singla A, Samdani AF, Flynn J, Bennett JT, Miyanji F, Pahys J, Marks M, Lonner B, Newton PO, Cahill PJ, Betz RR: What is different about surgically treated AIS patients who achieve a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in appearance at 5 years post-surgery? 48th annual Scoliosis Research Society meeting (podium), Lyon, France, September 18-21, 2013.

Hwang SW, Samdani AF, Roguski M, Sugrue P, Kawakami N, Sturm P, Betz RR, El-Hawary R, Pahys JM, Cahill PJ: Risk factors associated with progression of Chiari I malformation related scoliosis after decompression. 48th annual Scoliosis Research Society meeting (ePoster), Lyon, France, September 18-21, 2013; 20th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (ePoster), Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 10-13, 2013.

Dakwar E, Samdani AF, Cahill PJ: Cranial nerve injuries following cervicothoracic fusion in Klippel-Feil syndrome. 48th annual Scoliosis Research Society meeting (case presentation), Lyon, France, September 18-21, 2013.

Dakwar E, Samdani AF, Auriemma M, Pahys JM, Betz RR, Cahill PJ: Fusion after vertebral body stapling. 48th annual Scoliosis Research Society meeting (podium), Lyon, France, September 18-21, 2013.

Awards and Honors

2015, SRS Travelling Fellowship – Asia

2009, Louis A. Goldstein Award Nominee for Best Clinical Poster, Scoliosis Research Society annual meeting

2006, Resident Research Symposium - 3rd place, Orthopaedic Research and Education Fund

2006, Sofield Traveling Fellowship, Orthopaedic Research and Education Fund

1998, Summer Intramural Research Internship NIH, Loyola University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Editorial and Academic Positions

2013 – present, Reviewer, Thrasher Research Fund

2013 – present, Reviewer, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery – American

2013 – present, Associate Editor, Spine Deformity Journal

2010-2014, Editorial Board, Orthopedics

Leadership and Memberships

2013-present, Scoliosis Research Society – active member

- Local Host Committee for 2017 Annual Meeting

- 2013 -present, Program reviewer, Annual Meeting

- 2013 – present, Research Committee 

2009-present, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons – active member

-2012-present, Spine Program Committee



2008-present, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America

- 2013-present, Research Committee

-2013-2014, Coding Committee

- 2012-2013, Quality, Value, & Safety Initiative

2006-present, North American Spine Society – member

- 2010-present, Chest Wall and Spine Deformity Study Group – core member

- 2008-present, Harms Study Group – core member