Ali A. Baaj MD
@AliBaajMD
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Professor of Neurosurgery & Enterprise Chief of Spine Surgery | University of Arizona & Banner Health | Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Joined November 2019
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Last Seen Profiles
Dear Young Surgeons: Reminder. Social media gets you visibility, publications get you credibility, but only the operating room gets you respect.
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One of the most enjoyable surgeries.
(Lumbar Schwannoma)
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Thoracic Schwannoma - with careful planning, even the ventral lesions can be resected via posterior approach.
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I’m thrilled to announce that I’m soon launching a non-profit organization to support students from underserved regions across the world advance their neuroscience education and training in the U.S.!
The goal is to sponsor and inspire interested students and help them secure…
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Sometimes it’s screws and rods.
And sometimes it’s this.
(Hemangioblastoma)
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Even ventral Schwannomas can be resected through a posterior approach with proper exposure and releases.
#neurosurgery
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30
228
Every day of the week this is not a met.
It turned out to be a met.
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I’m always thinking of these 3 principles when treating my patients: 🔹Make decisions with them, not for them🔹Offer care that reflects their wishes/values, not yours🔹Focus on treating them, not their x-ray.
#neurosurgery
#PatientExperience
#PatientsFirst
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Dural AV-Fistulas, like this one, cause venous congestive myelopathy
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14
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I enjoy spine cases that require hardware.
But as a spinal neurosurgeon, I also enjoy working within the dura (and cord if need be, as in this thoracic cav mal).
Our field is beautiful.
#neurosurgery
3
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Doctors Day, Easter Holiday, weekend cases, but thankfully still some time to play with this little guy.
#blessed
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Surgically speaking, it’s one thing to see the MRI on the left, it’s completely another to see the CT.
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Every time I do these, I am in awe of our profession. I feel privileged and grateful. Every time.
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Wasn’t sure I could achieve and maintain correction with ACDF alone so went front/back on this one.
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Resection of an intradural schwannoma: expose, find the rostral/caudal poles, stimulate and cut affarent & efferent rootlet attachments, en bloc removal of lesion and close.
#neurosurgery
5
21
147
Back to my favorite compartment of the spine...the intradural space!
#neurosurgery
#arachnoidweb
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7
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Young surgeons in a competitive market:
Three tips to growing a thriving and gratifying practice:
1. Make decisions with patients, not for them
2. Treat patients based on their values, not yours
3. Sit and listen to your patient’s story, sometimes being a doctor can be more…
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Eternally grateful and blessed. Happy Holidays and New Year from us four.
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Very excited and grateful to share my new promotion as the Systemwide Chief of Spine Surgery with Banner Health - a 30 hospital, 6 state enterprise. What doesn’t change is my commitment to advocating for our spine surgeons, for our clinical and admin staff, and above all for the…
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Very fortunate I can offer treatment for both adults and children with scoliosis using the safest and newest technologies at our world-class institution!
@WCMCBrainSpine
@nyphospital
#NYTopHospital
#neurosurgery
#spine
#scoliosis
7
19
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Need to return to “fun” pre-COVID surgical posts, like this video showing extraction of a large herniated disc through a minimally invasive tube retractor.
#virtualspine
#neurosurgery
#orthopedics
@spinesection
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14
135
1st pub of 2024! Congrats to Dr. Julie Mayeku and the rest of the
#BannerSpine
research team on this clinically meaningful work demonstrating the safety/efficacy of subfascial drain use with intradural work. 48 hrs to “half-suction” giving fascia time to heal and then pull.…
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To all my friends and colleagues around the world who celebrate: Wishing you, your families, and your loved ones Eid Mubarak. 🕊️💐
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Our spinal robotics program is officially 6 months young.
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A perfectly executed spine operation can never overcome a flawed indication. Listen to the patient. Don’t let the MRI distract you.
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We’re excited to share that Dr. Giovanni Barbagli, one of our International Neurosurgery Research Fellows, has been selected as the 2024-2025 clinical spine surgery fellow with Drs. David Okonkwo,
@NitinAgarwalMD
and the excellent neuro spine team at
@UPMC
Neurosurgery.…
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Honored and grateful for the Visiting Professor invite by
@jacquesmorcosmd
and team at
@UTHealthHouston
. Such great neurosurgical talent, wonderful camaraderie, and a bright future for the growing department under Jacques’ leadership.
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At a recent lab with a legend in MIS spine surgery, Dr. Luiz Pimenta.
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We’re now accepting applications for our in-person International Neurosurgery Research Fellowship program at
@uazmedphx
. Recent grads of med school or NSG training are eligible. Deadline January 31. Start date Jun-Aug 2024. 12 month duration.
Contact
@Jobasketman
for details.
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My terrific neuro spine partner Dr. Michael Prim walking our clinical fellow Dr. Al-Arfaj through a navigated C1/2 fusion case.
#BannerSpine
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One month before the big move to Phoenix, Arizona! So grateful to my friends and colleagues
@WCMCBrainSpine
, I will miss them immensely. Excited and grateful for the chance to build a new, academic spine program at
@uazmedphx
and
@BannerHealth
-
#neurosurgery
#orthopedics
#spine
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I’m honored and proud to formally introduce the 2024 neuro global team! These selfless surgeons, physicians, educators and
#healthcare
leaders will volunteer their time to helping support the mission of this new nonprofit: To help students and physicians from underserved regions…
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In OC fusions, I unlock the Mayfield and rotate the head as needed to ensure proper alignment.
#neurosurgery
#orthopedics
#spine
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I’m excited to officially launch
@SpineSeries
, a new health educational program for the general public focused on Spinal Health. We hope to expand, in humble and small ways, the public’s access to quality spinal health information.
#spine
#health
#fitness
#medicine
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This is what happens when one doesn’t wear a seatbelt. Any questions?
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Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is a clinical -not radiographic- diagnosis. You can have a big disc herniation without CES and you can have a small disc herniation with CES
#neurosurgery
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X-Rays showing a patient can still retain reasonable motion, despite an extensive fusion construct, as long as the high cervical segments (O/C1/C2) are spared.
#neurosurgery
#spine
#neckpain
#education
#radiology
#surgery
@virtualspine
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For those who didn’t match today into
#neurosurgery
, don’t give up! Your hard work will pay off. Perhaps next year, perhaps via a different route. Reach out for ideas, advice and support: abaaj
@arizona
.edu
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An evening with my better half. Grateful for family and friends who make (and keep) us better.
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The patient on the left had a small lumbar herniated disc. The one on the right had a large one. Which one needed surgery? Neither...both improved with short course of physical therapy and medications. Treat the patient, not the X-Ray.
#neurosurgery
#spine
#backpain
#surgery
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Several years after a posterior cervical lami/fusion...same patient...where did the osteophyte-discs go? Fusion can reverse spondylosis.
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That very last bite with the Kerrison
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I adopted power drivers to place instrumention during spine surgery years ago and have never looked back. Ergonomics, automation, precision: All lead to a safe and efficient workflow.
#neurosurgery
#spine
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Virtually all intradural spinal tumors, even if ventral, can be resected via posterior approach.
#neurosurgery
#orthopedics
#tumor
#oncology
#schwannoma
@virtualspine
@NaderDahdaleh
@Baeesa
@AmericanCancer
@SpineUniverse
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I’m thrilled to welcome
@NaderDahdaleh
and
@abdelbarrspine
to the Board of Directors of Neuro Global - a new nonprofit established to help students and trainees from underserved regions across the world advance their neuroscience education in the US.
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What a great final case for me in NYC! A urologist colleague showed me how to take out this schwannoma on the left with this robot on the right.
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Surgically speaking, it’s one thing to see the MRI on the left, it’s completely another to see the CT.
#neurosurgery
#orthopedics
#spine
#neurorads
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Work is underway to prepare, publish and deliver an exceptional new text dedicated to Cervical Spine Surgery!
We’re covering both traditional (trauma, degen, tumor, etc) and new topics (robotics, AI).
Please share any ideas or topics you’d like to see us cover in this new…
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Neurosurgical residents/fellows should know the basic principles of sacral fxs. At minimum, know the 3 zones, H/U type fxs, indication for iliosacral screws and lumbopelvic fixation. Btw - direct decompression is rarely indicated. (Image credit: Dr. Ebraheim - YouTube).
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This one wasn’t easy but that’s what made it so special.
I’m honored to serve this great organization and advocate for patients with scoliosis.
Scoliosis Research Society - The premier global society for scoliosis research, education, and patient care.
@SRS_org
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5
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Honored to welcome
@theamna1
to our spine research team as of today! She is a woman, she’s of African descent, and she’s an IMG. And she WILL be a successful neurosurgeon in the US one day. Not because of us, but because of her. Proud to be the launch pad of her US journey.
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We need to stop telling patients that they must have spine surgery ASAP or they’ll become paralyzed. In rare cases, that may be true. But in most outpatient settings, that’s simply not accurate. Let’s propagate empathy and compassion with our patients, not fear.
#patientsfirst
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Right back at it. Robotics assisted spinal fusion surgery.
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Please join me in congratulating our terrific colleague,
@virtualspine
faculty co-host, and superstar neurosurgeon Dr. Jonathan Rasouli (
@jrasouli
) for joining the Neurosurgery Department at the world-famous
@CleClinicMD
as Assistant Staff Neurosurgeon!
#neurosurgery
#orthopedics
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Unilateral “kickstand” rod adds stability across the lumbopelvic region. Bilateral rods can also be used as needed.
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Delighted and honored to announce that
@PascalJabbourMD
of
@JeffersonUniv
will join the Scientific Advisory Board of Neuro Global - a new nonprofit established to help students and trainees from underserved regions across the world advance their neuroscience education in the US.
I’m thrilled to welcome
@NaderDahdaleh
and
@abdelbarrspine
to the Board of Directors of Neuro Global - a new nonprofit established to help students and trainees from underserved regions across the world advance their neuroscience education in the US.
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First week on the job! Here with Peter Nakaji MD, the Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Arizona - Banner Health - Phoenix. Exciting times ahead!
#neurosurgery
@uazmedphx
@BannerHealth
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This January I founded “neuro global” - a 501c3 nonprofit to support students from underserved regions globally pursue neuroscience-related research, training, and observerships in the U.S.
By partnering with an amazing team of surgeons, scientists and educators we will do our…
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16
94
Ten years ago, during training, I wanted to create a dedicated handbook for spine, which published 1 year later. And now, during the COVID pandemic,
@virtualspine
was born. Common theme? Good ideas need amazing collaborators to succeed! So proud and thankful!
#neurosurgery
#spine
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Congratulations to all who’ve matched into
#Neurosurgery
in the
#Match2024
!
Hard work likes ahead, during and after training, but the gratification and reward that come with this are unparalleled.
Enjoy the journey!
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