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Photo: Stephen M. David, M.D.
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Verified Patient Rating: 5 (589 patient reviews and ratings)
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Specialties: 
Back, Neck, Spine

Dr. Stephen M. David is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. He received his medical degree with honors from the University of Toronto. He completed his orthopedic surgery training, was chief resident, and a research fellow at Carolina's Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. He completed his fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Wisconsin. He specializes in spine surgery and disorders of the spine.

Areas of Expertise/Focus

Back, Neck, Spine

Medical Director of Spine Center of Excellence at Park Ridge Health

Regional Leader in Spinal Surgery Innovation:

  1. Ultrasonic Spinal Decompression (Misonix): Safer than laser spinal surgery treatments
  2. Nanotechnology for Neck/Cervical Spinal Conditions: Titan Spine Interbody Implants: Faster Healing and Recovery/Outpatient Surgery
  3. Outpatient and Less Invasive Spinal Surgery (LISS): Faster Healing and Recovery; Less Damage to Tissues
  4. OLIF Surgery (Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion): Less Invasive Spinal Fusion with Tremendous Power to Improve Outcomes
  5. Evaluation and Treatment of Spinal Instability: Only surgeon in the region using Vertebral Motion Analysis to accurately measure cervical (neck) and lumbar (back) instability, which can have major implications for patient outcomes and improvement
  6. Back (Lumbar) Spinal Balance Correction: One of the leading causes of failed back surgery; I focus on properly evaluating spinal balance problems and coming up with the best treatment options; this detailed evaluation is rarely included in lumbar (back) problem diagnosis

Education & Training

  • Bachelor of Science in Honors Biology: University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, 1984 - 1988
  • Doctor of Medicine: University of Toronto School of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, 1988 - 1992
  • Internship: Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1993
  • Winkler Orthopedic Research Fellowship: Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1993 - 1994
  • Orthopedic Surgey Residency: Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1993 - 1998
  • Spine Surgery Fellowship: University of Wisconsin, 1998 - 1999, Director: Thomas A. Zdeblick, M.D.

Military Service

  • Lieutenant Commander, Medical Corps, United States Naval Reserve (Honorable Discharge)

Certification & Licensure

  • Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2001
  • Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), 1997
  • National Board of Medical Examiners, 1993
  • Licensure: North Carolina, 1993 - Present

Publications

PEER REVIEW ARTICLES:

  • Current Concepts Review: Low Back Pain, EN Hanley, Jr., and SM David, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 81A(5): 716-730, 1999.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

  • Who Should Be Fused? EN Hanley, Jr., and SM David In: The Adult Spine, 2nd Ed.: ed. J. Frymoyer, Raven Press, Vol. 2:2157-2174, 1997.

PEER REVIEW JOURNALS:

  • The Biomechanical Effects of Spondylolysis and Its Treatment, H Mihara, K Onari, BC Cheng, SM David, TA Zdeblick, Spine 28(3):235-238, 2003.
  • Biomechanical Comparison of Posterior Cervical Fixation, H Mihara, BC Cheng, SM David, K Ohnari, TA Zdeblick, Spine 26(15): 1662-1667, 2001.
  • A Prospective Comparison of Surgical Approach for Anterior L4-L5 Fusion: Laparoscopic Versus Mini Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, TA Zdeblick and SM David, Spine 25(20): 2682-2687, 2000.
  • Lumbar Spinal Fusion Using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein in the Canine: A Comparison of Three Dosages and Two Carriers, SM David, HE Gruber, RA Meyer, T Murakami, OB Tabor, BA Howard, JM Wozney, EN Hanley, Spine 24(19): 1973-1979, 1999.
  • Lumbar Arthrodesis for the Treatment of Back Pain, EN Hanley and SM David, J Bone Joint Surg Am. 81(5): 716-730, 1999.
  • Comparative Biomechanical Analysis of Supracondylar Femur Fracture Fixation: Locked Intramedullary Nail Vs 95-Degree Angled Plate, SM David, ME Harrow, RDPeindl, SL Frick, JF Kellam, Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 11(5): 344-350, 1997.

PEER REVIEW ABSTRACTS:

  • Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion With the Keystone Technique: A Long-Term Evaluation EH Simmons, SI Bailey, KI Light, ED Simmons, JK Maguire, SM David, Orthopaedic Transactions (15)1:813, 1991.
  • The Long-Term Follow-up of Lumbar Extension Osteotomy in Patients, With Ankylosing Spondylitis, CD Brigham, EH Simmons, SM David, Orthopaedic Transactions (17)1:124, 1993.
  • Comparative Biomechanical Analysis of Supracondylar Femur Fracture Fixation: Locked Intramedullary Nail Vs 95 Degree Angled Plate, SM David , ME Harrow, RDPeindl, SL Frick, JF Kellam, Orthopaedic Transactions (19) 1:23, 1995.
  • Intervertebral Disc Transplantation: A Canine Study, SM David, HE Gruber, KD Gravitte, RA Meyer, Jr., EN Hanley, Jr. Orthopaedic Transactions (20)1:101, 1996.

Scientific Presentations

  • A Prospective Comparison of Surgical Approach For Anterior L4-5 Fusion: Laparoscopic Versus Mini-ALIF, SM David and TA Zdeblick, The North American Spine Society, 1999
  • Prospective Comparison of Cervical Lordotic Interbody Fusion Cages Versus Plated ACDF for Single Level Fusion, SM David, SE David, RD Orr, TA Zdeblick, Cervical Spine Research Society, 1999
  • Biomechanical Analysis of Cervical Spine Endplate Failure: A Comparison of Constructs Following Cervical Corpectomy, SM David, BC Cheng, H Mihara, TA Zdeblick, Cervical Spine Research Society, 1999
  • Biomechanical Comparison Of Posterior Cervical Fixations Including an Alternative Technique, H Mihara, K Ohnari, N Akiyama, BC Cheng, SM David, TA Zdeblick, Cervical Spine Research Society, 1999
  • Lumbar Spinal Fusion Using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein (rhBMP-2): A Randomized, Blinded and Controlled Study, SM David, HE Gruber, TMurakami, OB Tabor, BA Howard, RA Meyer, Jr., EN Hanley, Jr., American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 1996, Orthopaedic Research Society, 1996
  • Intervertebral Disc Transplantation: A Canine Study, SM David, HE Gruber, KD Gravitte, RA Meyer, Jr., EN Hanley, Jr., American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 1996, Orthopaedic Research Society, 1995
  • Comparative Biomechanical Analysis of Supracondylar Femur Fracture Fixation: Locked Intramedullary Nail Vs 95 Degree Angled Plate, SM David, ME Harrow, RDPeindl, SL Frick, JF Kellam, Orthopaedic Research Society 1995, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 1995, Orthopaedic Trauma Association 1995, Eastern Orthopaedic Association, 1994
  • On The Importance Of Cutter Loads In Intramedullary (IM) Reamer System Designs, RD Peindl , ME Harrow, CD Cuthbertson, SM David, JF Kellam, Orthopaedic Trauma Association, 1995
  • The Measurement of Thumb Abduction, GM Kiebsak, SM David, RD Peindl, GG Triana, JR Boatright, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, 1994
  • The Long Term Follow-Up of Lumbar Extension Osteotomy in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis, CD Brigham, EH Simmons, SM David, Scoliosis Research Society, 1994
  • Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion With the Keystone Technique: A Long-Term Evaluation, EH Simmons, SI Bailey, KI Light, ED Simmons, JK Maguire, SM David, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 1992
  • Lumbar Spinal Fusion Using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein(rhBMP-2): A Randomized, Blinded and Controlled Study, SM David, HE Gruber, TMurakami, OB Tabor, BA Howard, RA Meyer, Jr., EN Hanley, Jr., International Society For the Study of the Lumbar Spine, 1995, Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies, 1995
  • Intervertebral Disc Transplantation: A Canine Study SM David, HE Gruber, KD Gravitte, RA Meyer, Jr., EN Hanley, Jr., International Society For the Study of the Lumbar Spine, 1995, International Intradiscal Therapy Society, 1995
  • The Growth and Metabolism of Human Intervertebral Disc Cells In Vitro, HE Gruber, SM David, OB Tabor, EN Hanley, Jr., Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies, 1995

Honors & Awards

  • North American Spine Society Nordby-Smith Award for Minimally Invasive Surgery, North American Spine Society, 1999; Co-recipient with Thomas A. Zdeblick, M.D.
  • Founder's Award for Most Outstanding Paper, Eastern Orthopaedic Association, Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting, Rome, Italy, 1995
  • Orthopaedic Research Society New Investigator Recognition Award Nominee, 1995
  • Resident/Fellow Research Award, Voted Top Paper from USA, Smith and Nephew, Richards. Memphis, Tennessee, 1995
  • Eugene Nordby Research Award Finalist, International Intradiscal Therapy Society, Annual Meeting, La Jolla, California, 1995
  • Resident/Fellow Research Award, Eastern Orthopaedic Association, Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Meeting, 1994
  • Chief Resident, Orthopaedic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1997 - 1998
  • Best Clinical Paper Award, University of Wisconsin, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1999
  • Resident Paper Award, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, 1994
  • Honors Graduate, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, 1992
  • Summer Research Scholarships, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1989, 1990
  • University of Western Ontario Entrance Scholarship, 1984 

Hospital Privileges

  • Park Ridge Hospital

Safest Spinal Surgeon in Western North Carolina

Stephen David, MD of EmergeOrtho: Blue Ridge Region, scored as best spinal surgeon, achieving the lowest rate of surgical complications of any...

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“Dr. David is the best!! After years of pain in my lower back that radiated down my legs causing numbness and falls, I had a laminectomy with Dr. David and woke up walking all over the hospital halls with no pain and am now going into physical therapy still with no pain. It's been a blessing to me and my family. He's your go-to guy for the highest quality surgery and aftercare.”
– Connie T.
Patient Rating:
5
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