When considering surgery for your neck injury, choosing the right surgeon for your specific injury is critical in achieving relief from neck pain and minimizing complications. The neck surgeon you choose can significantly influence the quality of treatment you will receive.
To help you find the best neck surgeons for you and your procedure, this article will cover different elements you should consider when choosing the best neck surgeons, including the various treatment options and certifications to look out for.
Here’s a list of some of the best neck surgeons in the US:
Location:
Deuk Spine Institute, Spyglass Hill Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940
Experience: 24 years + experience
About Surgeon:
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian is a renowned neuro-spine surgeon and a true pioneer in minimally invasive, laser, and endoscopic back, neck, and thoracic pain treatment. He has extensive experience, has performed more than 5,000 cervical decompressive discectomies, treated more than 2,000 herniated or degenerated lumbar discs, and performed more than 2,300 laser spine surgeries.
Dr. Deukmedjian is the founder of Deuk Spine Institute, where he developed his revolutionary laser procedure called Deuk Laser Disc Repair.
Deuk Laser Disc Repair is a minimally invasive spinal surgery, a modern alternative to spinal fusion surgery and artificial discs. It has a higher success rate than traditional spinal surgery at 99.6%, with fewer complications, a quicker recovery period, and does not weaken the spine. This incredible surgery is available to anyone with back, neck, or thoracic pain from a herniated or bulging disc.
Outside of his professional practice, he is a member of the following professional associations. The Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Brevard County Medical Society (President, Board of Governors), and Surgery Department Chair, Parrish Medical Center, and has also been awarded the ‘Patients Choice Award’ for consecutive years.
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Surgery types:
Read more about Dr. Ara Deukmedjian
Location: Omaha, NE
Experience: 11 – 20 Yrs Experience
About the surgeon: Dr. Hasley is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is connected to several local hospitals, including Nebraska Medicine-Nebraska Medical Center and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center.
He is a diplomat of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a member of the Scoliosis Research Society and the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America. Dr. Hasley is an associate professor of orthopedic and spine surgery at UNMC College of Medicine.
Specialty:
Location: Plano, Texas
Experience: 21+ Yrs Experience
About the surgeon: Dr. Isador Lieberman is a fellowship-trained Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgeon board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. In his practice at the Texas Back Institute, he specializes in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders.
His clinical interests include adolescent and adult scoliosis, spinal tumors, trauma, cervical and lumbar degenerative disorders (e.g., herniated discs, spinal stenosis), musculoskeletal manifestations of multiple myeloma, spinal deformity correction, treatment of vertebral compression fractures, and advanced spinal surgery using minimally invasive, robotic and endoscopic surgical techniques and technologies. He is affiliated with multiple hospitals, including Texas Health Center for Diagnostic and Surgery and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.
Specialty:
Read more about Dr. Isador Lieberman
Location: Morristown, NJ
Experience: 11 – 20 Yrs Experience
About Surgeon: Dr. Jason E. Lowenstein is a fellowship-trained and board-certified pediatric spine and scoliosis surgeon. He is the Director of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformity at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, and a partner in the Advanced Spine Center.
Dr. Lowenstein specializes in the treatment of scoliosis, kyphosis, and spondylolisthesis, among other spinal disorders. He is a spine surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive procedures.
He has a lot of experience treating cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disc herniations and stenosis. He is interested in complex revision surgery for patients who have previously had spine surgery and have failed back syndrome. Dr. Lowenstein also has vast experience in treating spinal trauma and fractures and tumors and infections of the spine.
He has been named New Jersey Family Magazine’s NJ’s Favorite Kids Doc Award. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Scoliosis Research Society, and the North American Spine Society. Dr. Lowenstein is committed to a conservative approach to the treatment of spinal disease and seeks to provide his patients with a well-balanced treatment plan.
Specialty:
Read more about Dr. Jason E. Lowenstein
Location: Boston, MA
Experience: 25+ Yrs Experience
About the Surgeon: Dr. John B. Emans is an orthopedic spine surgeon and the director of Boston Children’s Hospital’s spinal surgery division. For his medical education and residency, Dr. Emans attended Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Surgery Training Program. He is also an orthopedic surgery professor at Harvard Medical School.
Complex spine, early-onset spinal deformity, congenital spine, idiopathic scoliosis, kyphosis, Scheuermann’s kyphosis, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal deformity, and spinal trauma are some of Dr. Emans’ specializations.
Specialty:
Read more about Dr. John B. Emans
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Experience: 25 Yrs Experience
About the Surgeon: Dr. Banco is a Board-certified abs fellowship-trained Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon. He obtained his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Philadelphia. He also completed a residency in spine surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Banco is a clinical Spine Surgery Editorial Review board member and has contributed two chapters to The Spine textbook. He has published original research articles in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Current Opinions in Orthopaedics, and Spine, among other journals. Dr. Banco founded Keystone Spine & Pain Management Center and is a founding partner of The Surgical Institute of Reading.
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Location: Chicago, IL
Experience: 20 Yrs Experience
About the Surgeon: Dr. Berger is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon and a pioneer in soft tissue joint replacement surgery.
As part of his pioneering role in minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Berger has developed specialized instruments, techniques for surgery, and knee and hip implants. His advancements allow most of his patients to walk independently and leave the hospital the very same day of their surgery.
Specialty:
Read more Dr. Richard A. Bergerq
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Experience: 25+ Yrs Experience
About the surgeon: Dr. Alvin H. Crawford is a renowned pediatric orthopedic surgeon globally and the founder of the Crawford Spine Center. He served as the director of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Dr. Crawford has won numerous awards recognizing his commitment and dedication to orthopedic surgery. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has awarded him the Diversity Award, which commemorated his dedication to mentoring over 50 diverse scholars after getting his doctorate.
He has also written over 200 articles, authored 67 chapters, and published 7 books over the course of his career.
Specialty:
Read more about Dr. Alvin H. Crawford
Location: Boston, MA
Experience: 21+ Yrs Experience
About the surgeon: Dr. Lawrence F. Borges received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University. He is a neurosurgeon in Boston, Massachusetts. He has affiliations with the Massachusetts General Hospital, where he has been in practice for over 20 years.
His focus is on spinal tumors and he has numerous articles published in professional and peer-reviewed medical publications.
Clinical Interest:
Read more about Dr. Lawrence F. Borges
Location: Mallory, FL
Experience: 6 – 10 Yrs Experience
About surgeon: Dr. Maahir Haque is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spine surgery. He also specializes in the treatment of neck and back pain.
Dr. Haque is an active member of the spine surgery community on both national and international levels. He has published several peer-reviewed articles in spine surgical journals, including the prestigious journal Spine.
Surgery performed:
Read more about Dr. Maahir Haque
The best spine surgeons include:
If you’re interested in a more detailed list of the best spine surgeons in the US, including the location and the surgery type carried out by each spine surgeon, head to this best spine surgeon article for more.
The neck forms part of a long, flexible column called the spinal column or backbone, which runs through most of the body. This neck region, also known as the cervical spine, consists of seven vertebrae, each numbered C1 to C7.
These vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs. It’s no surprise then, that some of the best neck surgeons are also the best cervical spine doctors. Let’s take a look at some of the best cervical spine doctors:
Neck pain is a common issue that affects many people at some point in their lives. It can range from a minor pain to a severe impairment, impacting daily activities and overall quality of life. While many instances of neck pain can be treated with rest, physical therapy, or medication, there are situations where consulting a neck and back surgeon becomes necessary.
When choosing a surgeon for your neck injury, take into account the following factors:
Before choosing a surgeon for your neck injury, make sure the surgeon has examined non-surgical therapy options. The best Spine & Orthopedic surgeons take a conservative approach to neck pain treatment, generally reserving surgery as a last option.
Neck discomfort can be treated without surgery in a variety of ways. Some of these include:
Another thing to consider when choosing the best neck surgeons is whether or not they are board-certified. Board certification separates specialists from less experienced surgeons by requiring them to meet specific qualifications, testing, and training criteria. Ultimately, board certification signifies that a doctor has received further training in their specialty area, has demonstrated a high degree of knowledge in that field, and is thus more suited to practice that specialty than a non-certified doctor.
Several boards provide certification, such as the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Board of Neurological Surgery. The American Board of Otolaryngology also serves the public by assuring that doctors meet training, knowledge, and professionalism standards through initial and continuing certification.
You should also check if your surgeon is board-certified or a member of one of the major professional societies.
When looking for the best neck surgeons to treat your neck pain, it is usually best to choose one specializing in the specific type of treatment you need. This is where fellowship training comes in.
A fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon is a doctor who has concluded a certain level of education and an additional year of specialty training in a specific field of orthopedic surgery. It allows the surgeons to gain subspecialty training, and improve their skills in their chosen surgical field.
The extra year of training enables a new surgeon to work with nationally known medical field experts, allowing them to obtain a specialty skill set not available during conventional medical school training.
In that case, you should seek a fellowship-trained orthopedic neck doctor because the additional hands-on training offers you comfort in knowing that the surgeon is among those who have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence in their field.
Neck surgery is a complex procedure that demands substantial training and experience. Whether your primary care physician recommends your surgeon or you choose one yourself, it is critical not to take your surgeon’s qualifications for granted. Doing this ensures confidence in the healthcare provider who will be doing your surgery.
When choosing the best neck surgeons, research their education and training to learn their credentials. The more experienced they are in performing the procedure you plan, the better. Specifically, evaluate how experienced the surgeon is at treating patients with your condition. Your surgeon should have undergone an orthopedic or neurosurgery residency, preferably with a fellowship in spinal surgery.
While not every qualified surgeon will have 20+ years of experience, it’s essential to find a surgeon with a strong history of performing the type of surgery you require.
A variety of factors cause neck pain, and not all of them require surgery. However, in some cases, surgery may be the best option.
There are several different surgical procedures involving the neck, but your diagnosis will determine which one is appropriate for you. For the best outcome, it is essential to find an experienced and top-notch surgeon who has performed your procedure and specializes in your specific surgery, among other qualifications.
Here are some of the most common types of neck surgeries: Deuk Laser Disk Repair, Cervical spinal fusion, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), Laminectomy, Laminoplasty, and Artificial disc replacement (ADR).
There are risks and benefits to having surgery. Before deciding whether or not the surgery is right for you, It’s essential to understand the processes involved. You should never feel rushed or compelled to consent to a specific surgery.
The consultation is a time for you to have a thorough talk with your surgeon so that you are entirely informed about the procedure before giving your agreement. Having enough information can help you feel safer. Knowing what other treatments are available and how they compare with the planned procedure may also be helpful.
Before you consent to surgery, make sure you consult with the surgeon doing the procedure. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Well-experienced and excellent surgeons will be happy to discuss everything with you. Allow yourself as much time as you require to make your decision. We strongly suggest you think things over for at least two weeks after meeting with the operating surgeon before undergoing surgery.
Finally, be wary of surgeons and hospitals who refuse to disclose operation information to you. In addition, every patient has the right to get a second opinion from a different doctor to seek counsel and maybe get re-examined.
Getting a second opinion from another neck or spine surgeon is crucial in ensuring the surgery is right for you. A second opinion can assist you in making an informed decision regarding the best treatment for your neck pain and weighing the risks and advantages of surgery with viable alternatives.
Obtaining a second opinion on certain non-emergency operations is now required by several insurance plans, and they will pay for it. Medicare may also cover the cost of a second opinion for patients. Even if your plan does not provide for it, you can still get a second opinion.
When it comes to emergency surgeries, keep in mind that the procedure should be completed as soon as possible. There will most likely be no time to seek a second opinion. The necessity of getting a second opinion should always be weighed against the severity and urgency of the medical condition.
Another fantastic way to learn about a surgeon’s track record and patient success stories is to read online reviews, testimonials, and maybe even success story videos. Looking at independent reviews from other patients and websites can help you make an informed decision.
Ask questions such as:
To acquire a well-rounded picture of what to expect, you’ll need to look into a range of independent sources and websites. Medical review websites like HealthGrades, Vitals, and CareDash allow you to look up provider ratings and learn more about patient experiences.
Typically, the only sites free of bias are those affiliated with the American Medical Association’s specialty boards, such as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) or the American Academy of Surgeons (AANS). The Board certification groups often give an unbiased list of board-certified physicians in your area.
Let’s take a look at some more questions about the best neck surgeons
The best neck and spine surgeon in the United States is Dr. Ara Deukmedjian. He is a renowned neuro-spine surgeon focusing on minimally invasive, laser, and endoscopic back and neck pain treatment. He is known as Dr. Deuk to his patients and serves as CEO and Medical Director at Deuk Spine Institute where performs the revolutionary procedure that bears his name: Deuk Laser Disc Repair.
Dr. Deuk is the top spine surgeon in the United States and has performed over 5,000 cervical decompressive discectomies and treated over 2,000 herniated or degenerated lumbar discs with no major complications in addition to hundreds of laser spine surgeries with a 99.6% success rate in the elimination of pain.
The least invasive neck surgery is the Deuk Laser Disk Repair. It is a type of endoscopic spine surgery that is performed Deuk Laser Disc Repair is a form of endoscopic spine surgery performed in a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center under sedation while the patient relaxes. This procedure does not compromise or weaken the health and integrity of the spine.
In over 15 years of performing this procedure and over 2,000 patients treated, there has been a 99.6% success rate with no complications.
Neurologists play a critical role in the non-surgical management of neck pain. They conduct comprehensive neurological examinations to diagnose the cause of pain, may use imaging tests to further understand the issue, prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms, recommend physical therapy to strengthen and heal, and suggest lifestyle modifications to prevent future pain.
The duration of neck surgery can vary widely depending on the specific type of procedure being performed. Minimally invasive surgeries such as Deuk Laser Disc Repair take about an hour, while more complex procedures, such as spinal fusion or artificial disc replacement, could last several hours.
The best neck surgeons to see can depend on the nature and severity of your condition. For those seeking non-surgical treatment options, a primary care physician, physiatrist (a rehabilitation specialist), or a neurologist might be the initial point of contact. These professionals can offer diagnoses, manage pain, and refer to specialists as needed.
However, if your condition requires surgical intervention or if you’re exploring advanced treatments for chronic neck pain, Dr. Ara Deukmedjian is the best choice.
If you’re suffering from chronic back and neck pain, the best hospital in the United States for spine surgery is Deuk Spine Institute. Deuk Spine Institute is the world leader in laser spine surgery and has performed thousands of procedures and achieved a 99.6% success rate in the elimination of pain.
Choosing the best neck surgeons in the US is a critical decision, and it’s essential to approach it with diligence and care. Remember, the key is finding a skilled surgeon and selecting a healthcare facility that deeply values patient well-being.
At Deuk Spine Institute, our focus is on you, the patient. Driven by a commitment to help and heal, we stand apart as a patient-focused healthcare center. We firmly believe that physicians have to prioritize what is best for their patients.
Deuk Spine Institute has performed thousands of procedures and achieved a 99.6% success rate in eliminating pain.
It’s time to finally cure–not just treat–your back or neck pain.
Contact us at Deuk Spine Institute today to get a free MRI review with our team.
