Spine Care
Surgical Options for Spine Conditions
For More InformationDuke’s spine specialists use advanced techniques to diagnose and treat your back and neck conditions. Although nonsurgical treatment options can be very effective, we also offer a range of minimally invasive and open surgeries that treat a variety of spine conditions.
Duke spine and back pain clinics are located throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.
Why Choose Duke
Surgical Options
If nonsurgical treatments aren’t providing adequate relief from the symptoms or pain related to your spine condition, or if your condition is worsening, you may be a candidate for spine surgery. Depending on your condition, our spine specialists can offer various surgical options to address your individual problem. Duke’s spine surgeons perform:
- Disc replacements, spinal fusion, and laminectomies to correct spine problems
- Spinal cord stimulation and other procedures to relieve pain
- Complex reconstructive surgeries to correct scoliosis and other spinal deformities
- Procedures to remove spine cancer lesions
- Decompression surgeries to relieve pain and pressure from pinched nerves
- And more
Whenever possible we use the least-invasive surgical techniques, so you recover quicker, experience less post-operative pain and fewer complications, and have smaller incisions. We’ll find the solution that’s best for you based on your activity goals, surgical preferences, and pain level.
Diverse Team of Experts
Our team of spine specialists includes neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, spinal oncologists, pain management doctors, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, and many others. We also have a chiropractor and acupuncturist on staff. Our surgeons meet together frequently to discuss whether patients are candidates for surgery and the best proposed surgery approach, so you get the advantage of receiving several expert opinions.
Patients of the Duke Spine Center that are scheduled for surgery are strongly encouraged to attend this class prior to surgery. Learn more about what to expect from spine surgery, including pre- and post-hospital care and other valuable information.
Highly Experienced Spine Center
Research shows that hospitals and surgeons who perform more surgeries tend to have better outcomes. Our surgical team performs more than 3,000 spine surgeries every year and sees over 40,000 patients.
Safe, Effective Results
Our surgeons are motivated to constantly improve, so they pay close attention to outcomes and always strive to do better. All three Duke hospitals have been named Blue Distinction Centers+ by Blue Cross Blue Shield. This recognizes Duke’s delivery of safe, cost-effective, and efficient spine surgery care. As members and leaders within the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Scoliosis Research Society, North American Spine Society, and Cervical Spine Research Society, our spine surgeons stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and advances in treating your spinal injury or condition. This results in safe, effective procedures that reduce complications to your crucial but delicate spine, nerves, and spinal cord.
Optimizing Health
Duke’s POSH (Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health), Pre-Anesthesia Testing Center, and pre-rehabilitation with physical therapy programs help evaluate, improve, and optimize health prior to surgery. Your team may adjust medications, initiate physical therapy, or refer you to a specialist to treat a chronic condition (diabetes, anemia, or smoking, for example) before surgery -- plus they’ll work with your surgical team to lessen risks.
Operating Room Technology
Our ORs are equipped with real-time imaging options that give spine surgeons detailed, 3-D pictures of your spine. These systems help avoid the need for extra imaging after surgery, exposing you to less radiation. OR staff also use a sophisticated nerve stimulation system -- similar to a GPS for your body -- that helps them avoid vital nerves and other structures during your surgery. This allows for more surgical accuracy than ever before. Robots are also used in surgery to increase precision. Our dedicated spine OR teams work daily to increase efficiency and improve outcomes.
Highest Level of Emergency Care for Spinal Injuries
Duke University Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center, which means we provide the highest level of emergency care for spinal injuries. Our trauma center is a regional and national referral center for neck and spine injuries and disorders.
Where you receive your care matters. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our orthopaedics, neurology, and neurosurgery programs are nationally ranked, and are the highest ranked programs in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2020–2021.