Vejthani Hospital, Bangkok – Thailand
About Dr. Worawat Limthongkul
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul is a Senior Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon with 25+ years of clinical and academic experience, recognised as one of the most internationally-recognised Spine Surgeon specialist in Bangkok, Thailand. As Director of the Centre of Excellence in Biomechanics and Innovative Spine Surgery (B in Spine) at Chulalongkorn University, he is widely consulted by international patients for complex spine disease, spinal deformity, robotic spine surgery, and OLIF (Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion).
- 25+ years of clinical and academic experience in orthopaedic and spine surgery.
- MD (1999) from Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Diploma in Clinical Science Program in Surgery (2002) and Orthopaedic Surgery (2006) — Chulalongkorn University; Thai Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (2006).
- Spine Research Fellowship (2008–2009) — NorthShore University Health System, University of Chicago, USA.
- Spine Fellowship (2009–2010) — Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Associate Professor and Director of B in Spine, Chulalongkorn University; OLIF Global Advisory Board member with 98+ publications and 780+ citations.
Qualifications & Credentials
Medical Degrees
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) — Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, 1999
Fellowships & Special Training
- Diploma in Clinical Science Program in Surgery — Chulalongkorn University, 2002
- Thai Board of Orthopaedic Surgery — Medical Council of Thailand and Royal Thai College of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2006
- Higher Grade Diploma in Clinical Science Program in Orthopaedic Surgery — Chulalongkorn University, 2006
- Spine Research Fellowship — NorthShore University Health System, University of Chicago, Evanston, IL, USA, 2008–2009
- Spine Fellowship — Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2009–2010
- Thai Board of Emergency Medicine — Medical Council of Thailand, 2012
- Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certificate
Certifications & Accreditations
- Thai Medical Council Registration
- Thai Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Thai Board of Emergency Medicine
- Royal Thai College of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Instructor
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Program (American Heart Association)
- OLIF Global Advisory Board Member & Key Opinion Leader
Areas of Expertise
Major Conditions Treated
- Lumbar Disc Herniation
- Cervical Disc Disease
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinal Deformity & Scoliosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spinal Trauma & Fractures
- Spine Tumours
- Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
- Adjacent Segment Disease
- Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation
- Orthopaedic Trauma
Sub-specialties
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS): US (Chicago, Philadelphia) trained expertise; pioneer of MISS in Thailand — a trusted Spine Surgeon in Bangkok for international patients seeking advanced minimally invasive spine surgery in Thailand.
- OLIF (Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion): Internationally recognised as Global Advisory Board member and Key Opinion Leader for the OLIF procedure.
- Robotic Spine Surgery & Spinal Navigation: Director of B in Spine Centre of Excellence at Chulalongkorn, advancing robotic spine technology.
- Spine Tumour & Deformity Surgery: Complex spine reconstruction expertise.
Advanced Procedures & Treatments
- Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLIF)
- Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS TLIF)
- Extreme Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)
- Cervical Disc Replacement
- Robotic Spine Surgery
- Navigation-Assisted Spine Surgery
- Spinal Deformity Correction
- Spine Tumour Surgery
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Cervical Laminoplasty
- Anterior Carbon I/F Cage Lumbar Fusion (FDA-IDE Clinical Trial)
Professional Experience
Current Affiliation
- Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok — Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Present
- Centre of Excellence in Biomechanics and Innovative Spine Surgery (B in Spine), Chulalongkorn University — Director, Present
- Vejthani International Hospital, Bangkok — Senior Consultant Spine Surgeon, JCI-Accredited Spine Center, Present
Past Affiliations
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA — Spine Fellow (2009–2010)
- NorthShore University Health System, University of Chicago, Evanston, IL, USA — Spine Research Fellow (2008–2009)
- Chulalongkorn University Hospital — Chief Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery (2005–2006)
Academic & Research Roles
- Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
- Director, Centre of Excellence in Biomechanics and Innovative Spine Surgery (B in Spine)
- OLIF Global Advisory Board Member & Key Opinion Leader
- 98+ publications and 780+ citations on ResearchGate
- Active in AO Spine and global spine education
Key Achievements
- 25+ years of clinical orthopaedic and spine surgery experience
- Director of Chulalongkorn's B in Spine Centre of Excellence
- Dual US fellowships at University of Chicago and Thomas Jefferson University / Rothman Institute
- Internationally recognised OLIF expert and Global Advisory Board member
- 98+ research publications and 780+ citations
Awards & Recognitions
National & International Awards
- OLIF Global Advisory Board Member & Key Opinion Leader
- Associate Professor Title, Chulalongkorn University
Professional Memberships
- Thai Medical Council
- Thai Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Thai Board of Emergency Medicine
- Royal Thai College of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- AO Spine — Active Member
Research & Publications
Published Papers (Selected)
- Limthongkul W, Karaikovic EE, Savage JW, Markovic A. "Volumetric analysis of thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies." Spine J. 2010;10(2):153-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2009.11.018.
- Karaikovic EE, Rattner Z, Bilimoria MM, Sener SF, McGee JP, Metrick LB, Szokol JW, Limthongkul W. "Coil embolization of a lumbar artery to control vascular injury during intradiscal surgery." Spine. 2010;35(5):E163-6. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181bdc2f7.
- Li J, Dumonski ML, Liu Q, Lipman A, Hong J, Yang N, Jin Z, Ren Y, Limthongkul W, et al. "A multicenter study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a stand-alone anterior carbon I/F Cage for anterior lumbar interbody fusion: two-year results from a Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption clinical trial." Spine. 2010 Dec 15;35(26):E1564-70.
- Savage JW, Limthongkul W, Park HS, Zhang LQ, Karaikovic EE. "A comparison of biomechanical stability and pullout strength of two C1-C2 fixation constructs." Spine J. 2011 Jul;11(7):654-8.
- Limthongkul W, Yingsakmongkol W. "Case Report: Cauda Equina Syndrome Associated With an interspinous Device." Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2012 Jun;470(6):1668-72.
- Limthongkul W, Tanasansomboon T, Yingsakmongkol W, Tanaviriyachai T, Radcliff K, Singhatanadgige W. "Indirect Decompression Effect to Central Canal and Ligamentum Flavum After Extreme Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (XLIF) and Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLIF)." Spine. 2020.
- Limthongkul W, Puttasean K, Tanayavong M, Kotheeranurak V. "The Patient-Reported Outcomes of Postoperative Prostaglandin E1 Derivative in Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial." 2025.
Ongoing Research & Clinical Interests
- OLIF and minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion
- Robotic spine surgery and spinal navigation
- Spinal biomechanics and innovative spine surgery
Estimated Treatment Costs
| Procedure / Consultation | Estimated Cost (INR) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Spine / Orthopaedic Consultation | ₹4,000 – ₹8,000 | $50 – $100 |
| Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLIF) | ₹5,00,000 – ₹13,00,000 | $6,000 – $15,600 |
| MIS TLIF / ALIF / XLIF | ₹4,50,000 – ₹11,00,000 | $5,400 – $13,200 |
| Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) | ₹4,00,000 – ₹9,00,000 | $4,800 – $10,800 |
| Robotic Spine Surgery | ₹6,50,000 – ₹15,00,000 | $7,800 – $18,000 |
| Spinal Deformity Correction | ₹7,00,000 – ₹18,00,000 | $8,400 – $21,600 |
| Spine Tumour Surgery | ₹5,50,000 – ₹13,00,000 | $6,600 – $15,600 |
*Indicative estimates only. Actual costs subject to hospital pricing, case complexity, and insurance. Contact Cancer Rounds for a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What advanced technologies does Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul use in Spine Surgeon and Orthopaedic treatment?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul uses advanced OLIF (Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion) systems as a Global Advisory Board member, robotic spine surgery platforms, spinal navigation, MIS TLIF/ALIF/XLIF instrumentation refined at Rothman Institute and University of Chicago, endoscopic spine technology, and contemporary biomechanics research-driven techniques developed at the B in Spine Centre of Excellence at Chulalongkorn.
2. What conditions does Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul specialize in treating?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul specialises in lumbar disc herniation, cervical disc disease, spinal stenosis, spinal deformity and scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, spinal trauma and fractures, spine tumours, cervical spondylotic myelopathy, adjacent segment disease, recurrent lumbar disc herniation, and orthopaedic trauma. He is regarded as one of the most internationally-recognised Spine Surgeon specialist in Bangkok, Thailand.
3. How do I book an appointment with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul?
Appointments with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul can be booked directly through the Cancer Rounds website or by contacting their international patient department for priority scheduling.
4. Can international patients receive treatment from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul?
Yes. Cancer Rounds provides full assistance for international patients seeking treatment from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul, including medical visa invitation letters, airport transfers, and local accommodation coordination at Vejthani's JCI-accredited international centre.
5. What support is available for international patients?
International patients benefit from a dedicated concierge service provided by Cancer Rounds, including language interpretation, financial counselling, and pre-travel virtual consultations to review imaging and medical records before arrival.
6. Does Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawat Limthongkul offer second opinions for Spine Surgeon cases?
Yes. Second opinion consultations can be arranged via Cancer Rounds for patients who wish to review their diagnosis or surgical plan with an expert Spine Surgeon specialist in Bangkok, Thailand.
