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Melissa Maria Erickson

Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery
Box 3077, Durham, NC 27710
Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Box 3077, Durham, NC 27710
Office hours 8:00 AM-5:00 PM  

Overview


I am a spine surgeon who provides surgical management of cervical, thoracic  and lumbar spine conditions, including cervical myelopathy, herniated discs, deformity, stenosis, tumor and trauma.  I provide both minimally invasive procedures as well as traditional surgical techniques.

Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery · 2022 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Associate Professor in Neurosurgery · 2022 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery

Recent News Items


Published March 27, 2024
Addressing Health Disparities with the Schweitzer Fellowship Program
Published April 13, 2020
Duke Creates Open-Source Protective Respirator

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Recent Scholarly Works


Spine-related leg pain: Definitions, etiology, clinical presentation, and management.

Journal article Musculoskelet Sci Pract · October 2026 Spine-related leg pain (SRLP) is a common and clinically important presentation, affecting a substantial proportion of individuals with lumbar spine disorders. Compared to those with isolated axial low back pain, these patients experience higher pain inten ... Full text Link to item Cite

Sex Disparities in Postoperative Outcomes Among Patients With Spine Tumors: A Systematic Review.

Journal article Am J Clin Oncol · July 28, 2026 OBJECTIVES: Sex-based differences in postoperative outcomes have been reported in nononcologic spine surgery, but their impact among patients undergoing surgery for spine tumors remains poorly understood. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the im ... Full text Link to item Cite

Evolving Applicant Priorities in the Signaling Era: Implications for Orthopedic Surgery Residency Recruitment.

Journal article J Surg Educ · June 2026 OBJECTIVE: The Orthopedic surgery residency application process has undergone notable recent changes, including the adoption of preference signaling and increasing emphasis on applicant-program alignment. To recruit top candidates, programs must understand ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


AO Spine AY26/27

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by AO North America · 2026 - 2027

Community-Based Approach to Identifying and Addressing Barriers to Care for Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by The J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society · 2023 - 2025

Exercise-induced recovery of intervertebral disc health

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2022

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Education


Rush University · 2006 M.D.

External Links


Orthopaedic Surgery