A spine surgeon is a highly specialized doctor (either an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon) who focuses exclusively on problems affecting the spine. This includes the bones (vertebrae), discs, nerves, and spinal cord itself, from the neck (cervical spine) all the way down to the lower back (lumbar spine).
They are experts in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions that cause back pain, nerve pain (like sciatica), and mobility issues, including:
Herniated or Bulging Discs
Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
Degenerative Disc Disease
Spinal Fractures from injury or osteoporosis
Spinal Tumors or Infections
Their primary goal is to relieve pain, correct deformities, restore function, and improve their patients’ quality of life.
Becoming a true spine specialist requires training beyond a standard surgical residency. This is achieved through a Spine Surgery Fellowship—an intensive, one-to-two-year training program focused solely on the spine.
Advanced Surgical Techniques: Fellows perform hundreds of complex spine procedures, mastering:
Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS): Using small incisions for faster recovery (e.g., microdiscectomy, laminectomy).
Complex Reconstructive Surgery: Such as spinal fusions and deformity corrections.
Cutting-Edge Technology: Training often includes using surgical navigation systems and robotic-assisted surgery for extreme precision.
Comprehensive Patient Care: The fellowship teaches how to manage the entire patient journey, from accurate diagnosis and non-surgical options (like injections and physical therapy) to post-operative rehabilitation.
Managing Complex Cases: Fellows gain invaluable experience tackling the most challenging spinal issues, including severe trauma, complex deformities, and tumors, while working alongside leading experts in the field.
This superior level of sub-specialized training ensures that fellowship-trained spine surgeons can provide the highest standard of care, offering patients the best possible outcomes for even the most complicated spinal conditions.
Dr. Babak Mirzashahi is an accomplished orthopedic spine surgeon based in Tehran, Iran, with a fellowship in spine surgery. He […]
Dr. Mohsen Motalebi is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Tehran specializing in complex spine surgeries, recognized as one of Iran’s foremost spinal specialists. With […]