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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 Duke Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Neurosurgery · 2024 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Professor in Anesthesiology · 2026 - Present Anesthesiology, Regional, Anesthesiology
Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery · 2026 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Radiology · 2026 - Present Radiology, Clinical Science Departments

Recent News Items


Published September 18, 2020
Awake for Spinal Surgery

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Recent Scholarly Works


Awake lumbar fusions: A comprehensive review of modern techniques and future directions

Journal article Seminars in Spine Surgery · October 1, 2026 Awake lumbar fusion, performed under regional anesthesia, represents an emerging paradigm shift in minimally invasive spine surgery aimed at reducing perioperative morbidity while preserving surgical efficacy. Growing evidence suggests that regional anesth ... Full text Cite

Awake lumbar decompressive surgery: A comprehensive review of modern techniques

Journal article Seminars in Spine Surgery · October 1, 2026 As spine surgery advances to minimize surgical footprint, awake lumbar decompression under regional anesthesia has emerged as a safe and practical alternative to general anesthesia for well-selected patients. Recent literature has thoroughly demonstrated a ... Full text Cite

Variations in Managing Acute Spinal Cord Injury in the North American Clinical Trials Network and Partner Institutes.

Journal article Global Spine J · September 2026 Study DesignSurvey based study.ObjectivesTo evaluate current patterns for managing SCI among spine surgeons in North America.MethodsA survey of the North American Clinical Trials Network (NACTN) and other institutions collected institutional demographics a ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


2026 NACTN Registry

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation · 2026 - 2027

2025 NACTN Registry

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

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Education


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