At present, there is no medical board that certifies specialists in spine surgery. Sutter Spine Services delivers care through neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery specialties. Because the neck and spine are the part of the skeletal system that houses the central nerve pathway, both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons receive training in surgery of the neck and spine.

Board certification is the most important qualification you should verify with your surgeon. Spine surgeons can receive certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) or the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Sutter spine surgeons come about equally from both specialties. Pediatric spine surgeons may be certified by the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery or by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Find Out More

Patients generally receive referrals from their primary care doctors to a spine surgery specialist. To self-refer or learn more about surgeons who specialize in conditions of the neck and spine, go to the Physician & Practitioner Directory and select Spine Surgery from the drop-down menu under Physician Specialties. To locate a pediatric spine surgeon, go to the Physician & Practitioner Directory and select Pediatric Neurosurgery or Pediatric Orthopedics from the drop-down menu under Physician Specialties. Clicking on a physician's name opens a profile, which offers more insight into the physician's areas of concentration.