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Christopher Ignatius Shaffrey

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery
DUMC Box 3077, Durham, NC 27710
DUMC Box 3077, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


I have more than 25 years of experience treating patients of all ages with spinal disorders. I have had an interest in the management of spinal disorders since starting my medical education. I performed residencies in both orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery to gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire range of spinal disorders. My goal has been to find innovative ways to manage the range of spinal conditions, straightforward to complex. I have a focus on managing patients with complex spinal disorders. My patient evaluation and management philosophy is to provide engaged, compassionate care that focuses on providing the simplest and least aggressive treatment option for a particular condition. In many cases, non-operative treatment options exist to improve a patient’s symptoms. I have been actively engaged in clinical research to find the best ways to manage spinal disorders in order to achieve better results with fewer complications.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery · 2019 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Neurosurgery · 2019 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery

Recent Publications


Does baseline thoracolumbar shape influence patterns of cervical decompensation following surgical adult spinal deformity correction?

Journal Article J Neurosurg Spine · January 30, 2026 OBJECTIVE: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery is complex and may lead to postoperative cervical deformity (CD) and/or proximal junctional kyphosis. The Roussouly classification describes four types of baseline thoracolumbar (TL) morphology, which differe ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Predictors of achieving Neck Disability Index minimum clinically important difference following cervical deformity surgery.

Journal Article J Neurosurg Spine · January 16, 2026 OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine predictors of the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in the Neck Disability Index (NDI) following cervical spinal deformity surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of a prospectiv ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

What factors predict the best outcomes for older patients operated on for grade I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis? A machine learning analysis from the Quality Outcomes Database.

Conference J Neurosurg Spine · January 9, 2026 OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis in older adults is increasing, yet the factors influencing surgical outcomes remain unclear. The authors' study used a machine learning approach to identify outcome clusters among older pat ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Multicenter Prospective Evaluation of Complex Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery (CADS)

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by International Spine Study Group Foundation · 2019 - 2030

PCD2: Prospective Radiographic and Clinical Evaluation of Surgical Treatment for Cervical Deformity: A Multi-Center Study 2.0

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by International Spine Study Group Foundation · 2019 - 2029

2025 NACTN Registry

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

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Virginia, School of Medicine · 1986 M.D.