Spine Universe Editorial Board

Dr. Shaffrey is an active member of many professional medical organizations including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the North American Spine Society, the American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, and the Scoliosis Research Society. This very active and involved doctor is also listed in the year 2000 edition of Who's Who in America.

Dr. Shaffrey began his medical education at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. As a recipient of a United States Navy Health Professions Scholarship, Dr. Shaffrey interned for a year as a general surgeon at the Naval Hospital of San Diego where he was awarded the Best Surgical Intern award. Dr. Shaffrey's residencies in neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery were at the University of Virginia Medical Center where he received various awards including the Crutchfield-Thomason-Gage Award for his research presentations.

Since 1989, Dr. Shaffrey has contributed to scientific scholarship by presenting research at national and international meetings, publishing chapters in medical books, and consistently contributing scientific papers to premier medical journals counting Neurosurgery, Surgery, Journal of Neurotrauma, Clinical Orthopaedics, Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Focus, Surgical Neurology, and Spine. In addition, Dr. Shaffrey is an editorial reviewer for the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, and the Journal of Trauma. Dr. Shaffrey has contributed numerous chapters to medical textbooks.
Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD is on the Spine Universe Editorial Board.

Spinal Case Studies From Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD

• Cervical Tumor in a 14-year-old Female
  This 14-year-old patient presents with neck pain and headaches for five months. She recently experienced upper and lower extremity weakness.
• Neurofibromatosis (NF-1) in a 15-Year-old
  The patient is a 15-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis who fell while skateboarding and suffered temporary quadriplegia.
• Sacral Fracture and Dislocation
  After a minor fall, the patient presents with severe sacral area pain and urinary incontinence.
• Cervical Trauma Resulting in Quadriplegia
  In this case, a young male sustains a cervicothoracic fracture dislocation and profound spinal cord injury.
• S1 Failure in an Elderly Female
  This elderly female previously underwent a T10-S1 fusion at another institution and presents with postural change and increased back pain.
• Adult Scoliosis: Progressive Lower Extremity Radicular Pain
  The patient is a 44-year-old female diagnosed with adjacent segment degeneration after prior Harrington rod treatment.
• Cervical Trauma in a Young Football Player
  This 16-year-old football player presents with severe neck pain and transient quadriparesis following a tackle.
• Grade IV Ismthic Spondylolisthesis
  The patient is a 32-year-old who underwent in situ fusion for grade II spondylolisthesis at age 16. She now presents with increasing low back pain with radiculopathy.

SpineUniverse articles from Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD

• Ankylosing Spondylitis: Description and Diagnosis
  Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by pain and progressive stiffness. It is part of a group of rheumatic diseases that share the human antigen HLA-B27.
• Ankylosing Spondylitis: Treatment and Recovery
  Treatment for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is aimed at relieving the patient's symptoms and preventing spinal deformity. Non-surgical treatment includes medication, physical therapy and bracing; seldom is surgery required.
• Complications in Spinal Fusion for Adult Scoliosis. A Report of the Scoliosis Research Society Morbidity and Mortality Committee
  The purpose of this study is to determine whether scoliosis subtype is an independent predictor of complications and mortality in surgery.
• Exams and Tests for Ankylosing Spondylitis
  Your doctor may run several exams and tests while trying to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis. Most likely, you'll have physical and neurological exams. You may need to have blood work done, and the doctor will probably order an x-ray.
• Get Active - Be Physically Fit and Strong!
  Physical fitness can help prevent diseases and injuries that affects boys and girls in their youth and as they age.
• Non-surgical Treatments for Ankylosing Spondylitis
  To deal with the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, you have several non-surgical options. Exercise can bring pain relief and keep your spinal joints mobile. Your doctor may prescribe medications for inflammation. Other options are explained, too.
• Osteoarthritis: Commonly Affected Joints
  Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint but most often occurs in the spine, hips, knees, or hands.
• Osteoarthritis: Degenerative Spinal Joint Disease
  Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease commonly affecting the spinal joints. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and different treatments that include medication and exercise to help you live with osteoarthritis.
• Osteoarthritis: Treatment Options
  Although there is no 'cure' for osteoarthritis, the symptoms can be treated.
• Surgery for Ankylosing Spondylitis
  Here's some good news: most patients with ankylosing spondylitis won't need surgery. Read about the situations where surgery may be recommended and what procedures surgeons use for AS. Also includes tips for an easy recovery from spine surgery.
• Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis
  The first symptom of ankylosing spondylitis is usually pain in the sacroiliac joints (located at the back of the pelvis). From there, AS can spread up the spine, causing bones to fuse, also known as ossification. Spinal stiffness is another symptom.
• What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
  Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by pain and progressive stiffness. It mainly affects the spine, but it can affect other areas of the body, too. Get an overview of this spinal condition here.