Spine
Every year thousands of Americans experience back or neck pain ranging from minor to severe. We provide compassionate, skilled and comprehensive spine care. We believe in delivering thorough evaluations and detailed discussions to help you make informed decisions.
We consider less invasive techniques wherever applicable. When surgery is the best option we use cutting edge technology with highly qualified and experienced providers.
Our multidisciplinary approach provides a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic treatment options for all spine patients. These areas of treatment include:
- Arthritis and/or degenerative conditions
- Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar disc herniations
- Failed neck and back surgery
- Fractures of the spine
- Low back (lumbar) pain
- Midback (thoracic) pain
- Neck (cervical) pain
- Sciatica/radiculopathy
- Scoliosis
- Spinal instability
- Spinal stenosis
- Tumors

Robert Vande Guchte, MD
Spine
Lincoln Orthopaedic Center
Availability: 2nd and 4th Friday of the month
Dr. Robert A. Vande Guchte is board certified in orthopaedic surgery. He hails from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and joined Lincoln Orthopaedic Center, P.C. in November of 1997. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine. He completed his Orthopaedic residency at the University of Alberta and a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the University of Calgary Sports Medicine Center. He has also completed a second fellowship in Spine Surgery at the University of British Columbia Spine Trauma and Disease Center.
Dr. Vande Guchte is on staff at all Lincoln hospitals, several surgery centers in Lincoln, and outlying community hospitals in Nebraska. Dr. Vande Guchte serves as Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Lincoln Stars hockey team and the Lincoln Saltdogs baseball team.
Dr. Vande Guchte’s decision to choose medicine and ultimately orthopaedic surgery as a career path developed early in life; guided by his Christian faith to help his fellow man, and influenced by his father, a dedicated and caring family physician. His own widespread involvement in many sports fueled his interest in orthopaedic sports medicine and the desire for challenges led to his major interest in spine surgery. In his free time, his hobbies include golf, ice hockey, and skiing.
Contact: (402) 436-2000

Mike Kowalke, PA-C
Spine
Lincoln Orthopaedic Center
“When a patient is in pain or struggling with a condition, they come to Lincoln Orthopaedic Center for clear answers and appropriate treatment options. As a Physician Assistant with the LOC Spine Team, I strive to use my diverse healthcare background to exceed each patient’s expectations and deliver optimal care.”
Mike Kowalke, PA-C is a Lincoln, NE native, and graduated in 2003 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Biological Sciences. He then moved to Las Vegas, NV, to work as a forensic Pathologist Assistant. In 2007, Mike received his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Southern California University, and concurrently acquired Certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He then migrated back to the Midwest and practiced for 4 years as a sports medicine chiropractor in the Lincoln community. Mike received his Masters of Physician Assistant Studies through Union College in Lincoln, NE.
Mike is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants (NAPA), the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is board certified as a Physician Assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and young daughter. He also enjoys distance running, tennis, and golf.