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Muhammad Abd-El-Barr

Professor of Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery

Overview


As a Neurosurgeon with fellowship training in Spine Surgery, I have dedicated my professional life to treating patients with spine disorders. These include spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, herniated discs and spine tumors. I incorporate minimally-invasive spine (MIS) techniques whenever appropriate to minimize pain and length of stay, yet not compromise on achieving the goals of surgery, which is ultimately to get you back to the quality of life you once enjoyed. I was drawn to medicine and neurosurgery for the unique ability to incorporate the latest in technology and neuroscience to making patients better. I will treat you and your loved ones with the same kind of care I would want my loved ones to be treated with. In addition to my clinical practice, I will be working with Duke Bioengineers and Neurobiologists on important basic and translational questions surrounding spinal cord injuries (SCI), which we hope to bring to clinical relevance.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Neurosurgery · 2024 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics · 2022 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments

In the News


Published September 18, 2020
Awake for Spinal Surgery

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Recent Publications


Lateral lumbar interbody fusion versus single position prone transpsoas approach: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis.

Journal Article N Am Spine Soc J · March 2026 BACKGROUND: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) and single position prone lateral (PTP) approaches represent significant advances in minimally invasive spine surgery, yet comprehensive comparative analysis of their research trajectories remains limited. ... Full text Link to item Cite

Do GLP-1 agonists affect perioperative risk in spine surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Journal Article N Am Spine Soc J · March 2026 BACKGROUND: Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) is increasing among patients presenting for spine surgery, but their perioperative safety and impact on surgical outcomes, particularly pseudoarthrosis, remain uncertain. METHODS: We ... Full text Link to item Cite

Simultaneous prone transpsoas interbody fusion and osteotomies for severe deformity correction: multi-institutional retrospective review

Journal Article Journal of Spine Surgery · January 31, 2026 Background: The increasing prevalence of adult spinal deformity (ASD) highlights the need for effective treatment strategies. While minimally invasive spine surgery has improved outcomes, patients with severe deformity often require more extensive correcti ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


2025 NACTN Registry

Clinical TrialCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation · 2024 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


Baylor, College of Medicine · 2009 MD./PhD.
University of Texas, Austin · 2002 M.S.
University of Toronto (Canada) · 2000 B.A.Sc.