In just under three years, Alok Sharan, MD, has seen his practice, Spine and Performance Institute, grow as awake spine surgery gains traction.
Dr. Sharan opened the Edison, N.J.-based practice in November 2022 to care for patients beyond the operating room. And more patients seek him out for awake spine surgery, not wanting to go under general anesthesia.
He credits the growth to increased awareness of awake spine surgery and its benefits for recovery.
“We’re seeing many more patients who are seeking out surgeons who avoid general anesthesia,” Dr. Sharan said. “More patients are getting educated on the fact that there is an option without general anesthesia and that the recovery is faster without it.”
Dr. Sharan is also seeing more patients recover from awake spine surgery with reduced opioid consumption or none at all.
“At this point now, about 90% to 95% of lumbar laminectomy patients are opioid free postoperatively. For lumbar fusion, 60% to 70% of patients are opioid free.”
However one challenge looms for Dr. Sharan as President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act could affect his ability to care for patients.
“I don’t think there’s a link between the Big, Beautiful Bill and awake spine surgery. but I do think that as a private practice, we’ll just make sure that as much as we can, we try to keep access available,” Dr. Sharan said. “The biggest problem with the bill is the issue of access because many people just won’t have the ability to pay to go see a surgeon.”
