Skip to main content

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 Orthopaedic Surgery · 2026 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments

Recent News Items


Published September 18, 2020
Awake for Spinal Surgery

View All News Items

Recent Scholarly Works


Posterior Cervicothoracic Fusion During Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning for Brachial Plexus Avulsion: Sagittal Alignment and Deformity Outcomes.

Journal article Neurosurg Pract · August 2026 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning is an established treatment of refractory deafferentation pain after brachial plexus avulsion. Exposure often requires multilevel cervical or cervicothoracic laminectomy, which may predispo ... Full text Link to item Cite

Robot-navigated sacroiliac joint fusion as salvage surgery for pelvic fixation failure in adult spinal deformity surgery: patient series.

Journal article J Neurosurg Case Lessons · July 20, 2026 BACKGROUND: Pelvic fixation failure (PFF) remains prevalent in adult spinal deformity correction, with failure rates up to 35%. Current revision surgeries are highly invasive and morbid, requiring extensive incisions and recovery times. Sacroiliac joint fu ... Full text Link to item Cite
View All Scholarly Works

Recent Grants


2025 NACTN Registry

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

Topical application of tranexamic acid (CYKLOKAPRON) to reduce blood loss during spine surgery

Clinical TrialInvestigator · Awarded by Columbia University · 2023 - 2026

View All Grants

Education


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