Christopher Chaput, MD, is director of orthopedic research and a spine surgeon at Temple, Texas-based Scott & White Healthcare. He is a member of the Cervical Spine Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. He also serves as an assistant professor of surgery at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Bryan, Texas.
Dr. Chaput focuses his practice on disorders of the cervical spine, including complex reconstructive procedures, lumbar trauma and tumors, less invasive surgery of the lumbar spine and motion preservation and disc replacement in the cervical spine. His research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, such as The Spine Journal, Spine and Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
"I think that the field of spine surgery is still dynamic and there are unsolved problems," says Dr. Chaput. "Spine surgeons like myself can still make a significant contribution to advancing the field. Also as an academic physician who trains younger surgeons it is very satisfying to help them with research projects that will help improve the quality of life for our patients. I think that the biggest issue for this generation of spine surgeons is going to be poor bone quality in the aging population. Surgeons are going to need to be much more conversant in the diagnosis and aggressive treatment of metabolic bone disorders."
Dr. Chaput received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Texas A&M Health Science Center/Scott & White Hospital, Temple in Temple. He has also completed at spine surgery fellowship at The Maryland Spine Fellowship.
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