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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


Anatomic parameters for diagnosing congenital cervical stenosis via computed tomography.

Journal Article Surg Radiol Anat · January 5, 2026 PURPOSE: To establish parameters for congenital cervical stenosis (CCS) using computed tomography (CT), assessing influences of patient sex, race, and ethnicity. METHODS: Measurements were collected of anteroposterior diameter (APD), interpedicular distanc ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Does Perioperative Ketorolac Use Impact Union Rate in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Journal Article Spine J · December 31, 2025 BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Spinal arthrodesis is widely used for degenerative, deformity, traumatic, and neoplastic conditions, yet non-union remains a major source of pain, hardware failure, and revision surgery. Multimodal analgesia often includes ketorolac to ... Full text Link to item Cite

Overlay of Nerve Roots to Aid in Augmented Reality-Guided L4 to L5 Transforaminal Interbody Fusion: A Methodologic Pilot.

Journal Article Int J Spine Surg · December 28, 2025 BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive transfacet transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TF-TLIF) offers advantages over open approaches, including reduced tissue disruption and faster recovery. However, limited visualization increases the risk of neural injury, ... Full text Link to item 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.