The Spine Division at Duke Orthopaedics is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive, personalized care for patients with spinal conditions. Our team combines high-volume experience with cutting-edge therapies and surgical expertise to help patients live healthier, pain-free lives. We understand that no two patients are alike, which is why we develop individualized treatment plans that consider each patient’s lifestyle, health goals, and the latest advancements in spine care. Our approach encompasses a comprehensive range of non-surgical and surgical options, including medications, targeted injections, physical therapy, and advanced pain management strategies. When surgery is necessary, patients are in the hands of some of the most experienced and highly regarded spine surgeons in the state.
Each year, our team performs more than 1,200 spine surgeries, ranging from disc replacement to relieve pain and inflammation, to complex reconstructive surgeries for scoliosis, and delicate procedures to remove spinal cancer lesions. Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive techniques to help patients recover more quickly, with less pain and fewer complications. Our operating rooms are equipped with the most advanced technology available, including intraoperative 3D imaging and real-time video guidance, which allow our surgeons to operate with exceptional precision. These innovations, combined with our commitment to minimally invasive approaches, ensure safer procedures, faster recoveries, and better outcomes for our patients.
Who We Are
We bring together a multidisciplinary team of specialists with expertise in nearly every aspect of spine care, from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and rehabilitation. Our team includes leading experts in neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery, as well as specialists in radiosurgery, physiatry, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. Dedicated nurses, acupuncturists, pain management professionals, and physical therapists work alongside a psychologist who focuses on the unique needs of patients recovering from traumatic spinal injuries. This collaborative approach ensures that each patient receives comprehensive, personalized care tailored to their specific condition and goals.
Fellowship
The Duke Orthopaedic Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship offers comprehensive training in the evaluation and management of the full spectrum of spinal disorders, including trauma, degenerative conditions, deformities, tumors, and complex reconstructive cases. Fellows gain extensive experience in both non-operative and operative care, with a primary focus on adult spinal pathology. The program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, preparing fellows to deliver high-quality, patient-centered spine care across a wide range of clinical scenarios.
Learn more about the Spine Fellowship.
Patient Care
At the Duke Spine Center in Raleigh and Durham, our specialists offer a full range of advanced therapies and surgical solutions to help you live a healthier, pain-free life. Drawing on our extensive experience treating a high volume of patients, we have found that personalized treatment plans yield the best outcomes. We take the time to understand your lifestyle and health needs, then design a comprehensive care plan that may include the latest medications, targeted injections, physical therapy, and pain management strategies. If surgery becomes necessary, you’ll be cared for by one of the most experienced and highly regarded surgical teams in the state.
Research
Our board-certified spine specialists are active members of prestigious organizations, including the Scoliosis Research Society, the North American Spine Society, and the Cervical Spine Research Society, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the latest technologies and advancements in spine, back, and neck care. Our research is equally robust and innovative. Duke is one of the few centers in the world offering awake endoscopic spine surgery, a groundbreaking ultra-minimally invasive technique that reduces tissue disruption, lowers complication risks, and allows for faster recovery, sometimes even without general anesthesia.
We are also leading studies on cervical disc replacement, which has been shown to significantly reduce the need for future surgeries compared to traditional cervical fusion, while preserving mobility and improving long-term outcomes.
In addition, our team is advancing the use of spine navigation technology, which enhances the precision of pedicle screw placement during spinal fusion surgeries. This technology not only improves surgical accuracy but also reduces radiation exposure for both patients and surgical team.s
Our ongoing research also explores the safety of complex spinal procedures, including innovations in spinal cord monitoring, blood clotting management during surgery, and the impact of prehabilitation protocols—rehabilitation before surgery—on clinical outcomes and perioperative recovery.