Becker's Spine Review has reported on four spine surgeons who operated on pro athletes since the beginning of 2020.
Here's what to know about the physicians and their cases:
Andrew Dossett, MD, performed back surgery on New York Yankees pitcher James Paxton on Feb. 5, 2020. Dr. Dossett is with Carrell Clinic in Dallas and is the author of multiple articles about spine injuries in athletes.
Dr. Dossett also operated on Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., the team said Dec. 1. Dr. Dossett operated on the basketball player's lumbar spine.
Bradford Currier, MD, performed spine surgery on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bjugstad on May 26, 2020. He repaired a herniated disc in Mr. Bjugstad's back at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Dr. Currier specializes in clinical issues involving the spine.
Chad Prusmack, MD, performed an artificial disc replacement on the Vegas Golden Knights player Jack Eichel on Nov. 12. The surgery was completed at Rocky Mountain Spine Clinic in Denver, and it was the first artificial disc replacement to be performed on an active NHL player. Dr. Prusmack has practiced with Rocky Mountain Spine Center since 2007.
Robert Watkins IV, MD, performed back surgery on Brook Lopez, an NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks, according to a Dec. 2 report. Dr. Watkins is the spine surgeon for three professional Los Angeles teams: the MLB's Dodgers, the NBA's Clippers and the NFL's Rams.