Awake spinal surgery is a less-invasive way for physicians to operate on patients, using local and regional anesthesia, and typically offering a safer and faster recovery.
Here are nine health systems currently performing awake spinal surgery for patients:
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of every health system offering awake surgery.
1. Durham, N.C.-based Duke Neurosurgery offers patients awake spine fusion procedures, performing its first procedure in 2019.
2. Cleveland Clinic offers awake, minimally invasive spine surgery for certain procedures and patients.
3. In December 2023, Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University successfully completed its first awake, minimally invasive microdiscectomy.
4. Phoenix-based Desert Institute for Spine Care offers awake spine surgery for all endoscopic spine surgeries, including discectomy/decompression and open-dorsal rhizotomies.
5. Roseville-based Minnesota Spine Institute offers awake surgery for endoscopic spine surgeries such as hemilaminectomies, microdiscectomies, foraminotomies and medial branch nerve transections.
6. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center performed its first awake spinal surgery in late 2023.
7. Physicians at University of California in San Francisco began performing awake spine surgeries in 2018.
8. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has offered patients awake spinal surgery options for the last several years.
9. Edison, N.J.-based Awake Spinal Fusion has offered outpatient, awake spinal procedures for several years.