New Robotic spine surgery is coming to Valparaiso — Northwest Health Porter has added the Medtronic Axis™ spine robot for Dr. Hobbs, starting this August. Learn more
Now Accepting New Patients

Robotic spine surgery is coming to Valparaiso.

Northwest Health Porter hospital in Valparaiso has added the Medtronic Axis™ robotic guidance system for Dr. Hobbs. Robotic-assisted spine surgery begins August 2026 — precision technology, close to home.

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ABNS
Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
Dr. Hobbs performing image-guided spine surgery with live navigation on screen
First in NW Indiana · August 2026

Why patients choose Dr. Hobbs

Experience you can verify.

Credential ABNS Board-Certified Complex spine Tumor & Deformity Expertise Case coordination Workers’ Compensation Care Northwest Indiana Outpatient Spine Surgery 5.0 Patient Rating

Training & practice affiliation
Academic neurosurgical training. Local, specialized care.

Find Your Path

Tell us what’s going on — we’ll point you to the right page.

Two quick questions. This points you to reading, not a diagnosis.

Emergency signs skip this page: new bowel or bladder changes, numbness in the saddle area, or rapidly progressive weakness mean the emergency department — now.

Meet Dr. Hobbs

Specialty-trained care for complex spine conditions.

Jonathan G. Hobbs, M.D. is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery, including spinal tumors and deformities. University of Chicago–trained and based at Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute, he brings advanced care close to home in Northwest Indiana.

View credentials LBJI profile
Jonathan G. Hobbs, M.D., board-certified neurosurgeon
Jonathan G. Hobbs, M.D.
Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
ABNS Board-CertifiedAmerican Board of Neurological Surgery
University of ChicagoNeurological surgery residency · Chief Resident
Complex & Revision Spine SurgerySpinal tumors · deformity correction · failed fusions
Conditions

Find the condition behind the symptoms.

Back, neck, arm, and leg symptoms often overlap. Start with the pattern that sounds most familiar.

Not sure? Use the symptom guide

Pain & nerve symptoms

Structural & complex conditions

Patient Reviews

What Patients Say About Dr. Hobbs

5.0 / 5 Based on 496 patient ratings & 270 reviews

"He never rushes you. He takes the time to listen and figure out what is wrong."

Verified Patient

"Very informational. He let me know everything about my case, including the steps and what to expect."

Verified Patient

"Dr. Hobbs is a wonderful doctor. He has taken great care of our grandson."

Verified Patient

"He is the best doctor I have ever met!"

Verified Patient

"Dr. Hobbs and his staff are friendly, professional, and thorough."

Verified Patient

"Dr. Hobbs has excellent bedside manner — very supportive and helpful in explaining procedures."

Verified Patient
Google ReviewsRead public patient feedback Verified PatientsSee all 270 verified reviews
Personalized Medicine Process

A surgical plan built around your anatomy.

Imaging is translated into a patient-specific plan and custom 3D-printed implants for alignment, deformity, and degenerative spine surgery.

Planning technology

Carlsmed MedtronicGAiTEWAY™
Step 01

Capture

CT or X-ray imaging creates a precise 3D model of your spine.

 Step 02

Plan

Dr. Hobbs defines the alignment and correction goals.

 Step 03

Design

Patient-specific implants are designed and 3D printed.

 Step 04

Deliver

Sterile devices arrive ready for the operating room.

 Step 05

Measure

Post-operative imaging confirms the surgical goals.

AI-enabled planning supports Dr. Hobbs’s judgment from pre-operative design through post-operative measurement.

See the full process
Advanced Technology

Technology selected for the problem at hand.

From real-time navigation to implants built for an individual anatomy, these tools help Dr. Hobbs plan more precisely and operate with better information.

Planning & Navigation

StealthStation™ & Axis™ Robotics

Real-time 3D guidance for precise instrument and implant placement.

AI-Assisted Case Planning

Patient anatomy and alignment goals mapped before surgery with Medtronic GAiTEWAY™.

UNiD™ Patient-Specific Rods

Pre-contoured rods matched to the planned spinal alignment.

Patient-Specific & Motion-Preserving Implants

Carlsmed aprevo® Implants First in Central U.S.

Custom 3D-printed implants designed from the patient’s anatomy.

CarboClear® Carbon Fiber First in Indiana

Radiolucent tumor implants that preserve clarity for imaging and radiation.

Premia Spine TOPS™ First in Indiana

Motion-preserving stabilization for select lumbar conditions.
Surgical Expertise

Dr. Hobbs's Approach to Spine Surgery

  • 01 Nonsurgical treatment is explored first whenever appropriate — surgery when it is the right answer.
  • 02 Image-guided StealthStation navigation paired with minimally invasive techniques for smaller incisions and exceptional accuracy.
  • 03 Experienced in complex revision surgery for patients with prior failed or painful spine fusions.
  • 04 Individualized surgical planning for each patient's condition and goals.
Dr. Jonathan Hobbs performing minimally invasive spine surgery in the operating room

Dr. Hobbs in the operating room.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)

Small incisions and advanced techniques minimize muscle damage, leading to faster healing, less postoperative pain, reduced blood loss, and smaller scars compared to traditional open surgery.

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Spinal Tumor & Deformity Surgery

As a specialty-trained neurosurgeon, Dr. Hobbs surgically treats spinal tumors and complex spinal deformities, working to relieve nerve compression, restore alignment, and stabilize the spine. For tumor cases he uses radiolucent carbon-fiber implants (CarboFix CarboClear) that don't interfere with imaging or radiation therapy.

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Outpatient & Same-Day Spine Surgery

Many spine procedures can be performed safely in an ambulatory surgery center, allowing select patients to recover at home the same day — with less surgical pain and faster recovery.

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Revision Surgery for Failed Fusions

Patients with continued or returning pain after a previous spine fusion often have correctable problems. Dr. Hobbs specializes in revision surgery — using image-guided navigation and AI-assisted planning to address failed, painful, or incomplete prior fusions.

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Microdiscectomy & Laminectomy

Targeted decompression procedures to relieve pressure on spinal nerves. Microdiscectomy removes the herniated portion of a disc; laminectomy removes a small portion of bone to widen the spinal canal.

Learn more

Spinal Fusion & Stabilization

When fusion is necessary for spinal stability, Dr. Hobbs uses modern, minimally invasive fusion and stabilization techniques to join affected vertebrae and relieve pain.

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Motion Preservation

Alternatives to Lumbar Fusion

Fusion is not the only answer. For appropriate patients, Dr. Hobbs offers FDA-approved devices that relieve the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis while preserving the spine's natural motion — without permanently fusing the bones.

coflex interlaminar stabilization device
Motion-Preserving

Coflex® Interlaminar Stabilization

A small titanium device placed after decompression to stabilize the spine without fusing it — an FDA-approved option for one- or two-level lumbar spinal stenosis that keeps the segment moving.

Explore coflex First in Indiana
Premia Spine TOPS implant on a spine model
Motion-Preserving

Premia Spine TOPS™ System

A mechanical motion device that replaces what is removed during decompression — an FDA-approved alternative to fusion for spinal stenosis with spondylolisthesis. Dr. Hobbs was the first surgeon in Indiana to perform it.

Explore TOPS
Our Practice

A Modern Home for Spine Care

Dr. Hobbs sees patients at the state-of-the-art Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute in Crown Point. Take a look inside.

Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute, Crown Point — exterior at dusk Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute, Crown Point — main entrance LBJI Crown Point — main lobby and reception LBJI Crown Point — lobby and waiting area LBJI Crown Point — patient check-in stations LBJI Crown Point — Keeping Me In Motion wall LBJI Crown Point — patient exam room
Professional Record

Training that informs every decision.

Board certification, academic training, complex-spine expertise, and continued involvement in the specialty.

01

CertificationAmerican Board of Neurological Surgery

Board-certified in neurological surgery.

02

ResidencyThe University of Chicago

Completed neurological surgery residency and served as chief resident.

03

Clinical FocusSpinal Tumor & Deformity

Specialty-trained in complex conditions affecting alignment, stability, and the nervous system.

04

Academic ServicePeer Reviewer

Reviewer for Spine, The Spine Journal, and the Journal of Neurotrauma.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers from Dr. Hobbs's office about surgery, recovery, and your care.

About Dr. Hobbs

Jonathan G. Hobbs, M.D. is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in spine surgery, including spinal tumors and deformities. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kentucky and completed his neurological surgery residency at the University of Chicago, serving as chief resident in his final year. He practices at Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute.
No. Dr. Hobbs believes nonsurgical solutions should be explored first whenever appropriate, including physical therapy, injections, and pain management. Surgery is considered once conservative options have been exhausted or when a condition clearly requires it.
Dr. Hobbs diagnoses and treats the full range of spinal conditions, including herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and — as a specialty-trained neurosurgeon — spinal tumors and deformities.
Crown Point: 500 E 109th Avenue, Crown Point, IN 46307
Chesterton: 601 Gateway Boulevard, Chesterton, IN 46304
Portage: 3691 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 46368
Call (219) 250-5010 to schedule. Dr. Hobbs serves patients throughout Northwest Indiana.

Surgery & Recovery

Depending on the procedure, many patients can go home the day of surgery or the day after. While you are in the hospital, your care team remains in close contact with hospital staff. Following an uneventful overnight stay, you may be able to go home in the morning.
In the hospital, any medications you are already taking will be resumed (except blood thinners like Plavix, aspirin, or Coumadin, which are restarted later). Ice may be placed on your incision to reduce swelling. After discharge, patients are usually given a pain medication, muscle relaxant, and stool softener. The initial prescription should last at least two weeks until your first office visit.
Shower: typically about 2 days after surgery (hot tubs and baths are prohibited).
Driving: no driving for at least two weeks, possibly longer depending on your surgery.
Strenuous activities: gradually resume with medical clearance. Walk with moderation once home and avoid heavy lifting and frequent bending.
Return to work: most patients return between two and six weeks. Always follow the specific instructions Dr. Hobbs gives you.
Watch for increased redness or drainage from the surgical site, increased pain at the surgical site, or fever. Although these are common signs, having any of them may not necessarily indicate an infection. If you have any concerns, please call the office at (219) 250-5010.
Sleep: you may sleep in any comfortable position. After cervical surgery, you may find it comfortable to sleep with your collar on, but it is not mandatory. For lumbar surgery, sleeping on your back or side is fine.
Dressing: the outer dressing may be removed when you get home, but steri-strips should remain in place. Ice is recommended on the incision site.
Diet: a balanced diet with adequate protein and vitamins supports recovery.
It is common for patients to experience some "rebound" in their symptoms or even some persistence of symptoms after surgery. However, these symptoms should gradually diminish. If you are concerned, please call the office at (219) 250-5010 so the appropriate action can be taken.

Choosing a Spine Surgeon in Northwest Indiana

Key factors to consider: board certification, specialty training relevant to your condition, experience with your particular problem, whether they offer minimally invasive options, and whether they explore nonsurgical treatments first. Dr. Hobbs is a board-certified neurosurgeon, University of Chicago–trained, specialty-trained in spinal tumors and deformities, and explores conservative options before recommending surgery.
Both neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons treat spinal conditions and often perform similar operations. Neurosurgeons receive extensive training in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, which is especially valuable for conditions involving the spinal cord and nerves, such as spinal tumors. As a neurosurgeon, Dr. Hobbs is specialty-trained in treating spinal tumors and deformities in addition to common degenerative spine conditions.
Most spine conditions improve with conservative treatment such as physical therapy, medications, and injections. Surgery may be recommended if conservative treatments have failed, if you have progressive neurological symptoms (increasing weakness, numbness, or loss of function), or if you have a condition requiring urgent intervention. Dr. Hobbs believes nonsurgical solutions should be explored first whenever appropriate.
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) offers several advantages over traditional open surgery: smaller incisions, less muscle damage, reduced blood loss, lower infection risk, less postoperative pain, and faster recovery. Many MISS procedures can be performed as outpatient surgery. Whether MISS is appropriate depends on your specific condition.
The best treatment depends on severity. Most herniated discs improve with conservative care including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and epidural steroid injections. When surgery is needed, minimally invasive microdiscectomy can relieve nerve pressure through a small incision, with many patients going home the same day.
Dr. Jonathan Hobbs sees patients at three Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute locations: Crown Point (500 E 109th Avenue, 46307), Chesterton (601 Gateway Boulevard, 46304), and Portage (3691 Willowcreek Road, 46368). He serves patients throughout Northwest Indiana including Valparaiso, Merrillville, Hobart, Munster, Dyer, Michigan City, and LaPorte. Call (219) 250-5010 to schedule a consultation.

Returning to Your Life After Surgery

Since each patient is different, it is difficult to predict exactly when you will return to work. Most patients return between two and six weeks after surgery. With each office visit after your surgery you will be provided with a work status slip for your employer. Patients with desk jobs may return sooner than those with physically demanding work. Dr. Hobbs will provide personalized guidance based on your procedure and recovery progress.
You can gradually resume strenuous activities, including golf and other sports, once you have medical clearance from Dr. Hobbs. Patients are encouraged to walk with moderation once they are home. Avoid heavy lifting, frequent bending, or activities that cause increased soreness during the initial recovery period. Each sport places different demands on the spine, so Dr. Hobbs will advise you on a timeline specific to your activity.
Sexual activities are generally prohibited during the first two weeks after surgery but can gradually be resumed after that. As with all activities during recovery, listen to your body and avoid positions or movements that cause pain. If you have questions, please discuss them with Dr. Hobbs during your follow-up visit.
Yes. However, you should hold onto a railing and be sure your legs are steady and not weak. Take your time and avoid rushing. If you experience any leg weakness or instability on stairs, use extra caution and contact Dr. Hobbs's office.
Get in Touch

Office Locations in Northwest Indiana

Crown Point Office

500 E. 109th Avenue
Crown Point, IN 46307

(219) 250-5010
Chesterton Office

601 Gateway Boulevard
Chesterton, IN 46304

(219) 250-5010
Portage Office

3691 Willowcreek Road
Portage, IN 46368

(219) 250-5010
Office Hours

Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Communities Served

Crown Point, Chesterton, Portage, Valparaiso, Merrillville, Hobart, Munster, Dyer, Highland, Michigan City, LaPorte, and the greater Northwest Indiana & South Chicagoland area.

Office Maps

Crown Point

Chesterton

Portage

Schedule Your Consultation

Call our office or use the LBJI Patient Portal to schedule your appointment with Dr. Hobbs.

(219) 250-5010 LBJI Patient Portal

Monday – Friday · 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute, Crown Point — exterior at dusk Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute — Chesterton office

Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute · Crown Point & Chesterton, IN

A Physician of Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute
Northwest Indiana's Most Preferred Orthopedic Practice