Alexander P. Hughes, MD

Dr. Alex Hughes is an attending spinal surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He specializes in the degenerative, deformity, and trauma related diseases of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine. Dr. Hughes practices innovative less invasive approaches to the spine whenever indicated and possible. He believes that the most important factor in spine patient outcomes is delivering an effective and correct solution at the time of primary surgery. However, new techniques and approaches now allow for more effective treatment in the complex or revision surgery spine patient.

Dr. Hughes was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He has a degree in biomedical engineering (summa cum laude) from Vanderbilt University. He completed medical school at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a residency in orthopedic surgery at UCLA. Dr. Hughes received fellowship training in spinal surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery before joining the faculty at that institution. He feels a background in engineering plus the clinical and technical skills acquired in orthopedic surgery and spinal surgery training provides an excellent foundation for innovative and effective solutions in spinal surgery.

Dr. Hughes also serves as the Director of Spine Surgery Service at the James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center and provides spine surgical care to our nation’s veterans.

Dr. Hughes’ office is conveniently located in the HSS complex in Manhattan (523 East 72nd Street).

Appointments

Assistant Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College
Director, Spine Surgery Service, James J. Peters Bronx VA

Specialty

Orthopedic Surgery

Subspecialty

Spinal Surgery

Special Expertise

Dr. Hughes believes in enhancing patient experience and outcomes through innovation and clinical research.  He has a special interest in the 3-dimensional mechanics of the aging spine.  He believes that innovative, less invasive approaches to the spine, new biologic healing agents, and better understanding and treatment of bone deficiencies are revolutionizing the way we treat diseases of the spine. 

Conditions and Disorders
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Back Pain
Balance Issues
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical Arthritis (Spondylosis)
Cervical Fracture (Broken Neck)
Compression Fractures
Degenerative Disc Disease
Facet Arthropathy
Fractures of the Spine
Herniated Disc (Ruptured or Slipped Disc)
Instability
Kyphosis
Lower Back Pain
Myelopathy
Neck Sprain
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Spinal Stenosis
Spondylitis / Spondyloarthritis / Spondyloarthropathy
Spondylolysis / Spondylolisthesis
Whiplash

Procedures

Biologic Intervention
Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP)
Decompression Surgery (cervical and lumbar laminectomy, micro-laminotomy, micro-foraminotomy)
Deformity Correction
Disc Replacement
Dynamic Stabilization
Endoscopic Spine Fusion
Lateral Access Spine Surgery
Microsurgical Discectomy
Microsurgical Decompression
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Spinal Fusion (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)

Specialized Centers

• Spine Care Institute
  Dr. Hughes is one of 15 spinal surgeons at the Spine Care Institute (SCI) at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).  The SCI is a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive center of excellence for the treatment of all non-operative and operative spinal disorders.
  
  The mission of the Spine Care Institute is to bring together a highly renowned team of spine care specialists covering a range of professional disciplines who through research, education, and clinical excellence will provide the highest standard of comprehensive patient care and open new frontiers in the diagnosis and treatment of adult and pediatric spinal disorders including scoliosis and disc herniations. The Institute has experts in multiple fields to ensure all patients’ needs are addressed.
  
  Patients who suffer from back and joint pain often find it difficult to find answers to their questions and navigate the many treatment options available to them. Look no further - the Spine Care Institute at Hospital for Special Surgery can handle all of your needs.

Education

BE (bachelor of engineering, biomedical engineering), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 1999
MD, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 2003

Internship

General Surgery, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 2004

Residency

Orthopaedic Surgery, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 2008

Fellowship

Spinal Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 2009

State Licensure

New York, California  

Alexander P. Hughes, MD has contributed to the following articles on HSS.edu:

Selected Publications

Increased in-hospital complications after primary posterior versus primary anterior cervical fusion.
Memtsoudis SG, Hughes A, Ma Y, Chiu YL, Sama AA, Girardi FP.
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011 Mar;469(3):649-57.
PMID:
20838946

Risk Factors for Postoperative Infection Following Posterior Lumbar Instrumented Arthrodesis.
Koutsoumbelis S, Hughes A, Girardi FP, Cammisa FP, Finerty E, Nguyen J, Gausden E, Sama AA.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 2011 [Epub Ahead of Print]
PMID:
00039R3

Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy:  A Review of the Literature and Treatment Standards at The Hospital for Special Surgery
Lebl D, Hughes A, Cammisa FP, O’leary P
The HSS Journal 2011 [Epub Ahead of Print]

Cervical Radiculopathy:  A Review and Treatment Standards
Caridi J, Pumberger M, Hughes A
The HSS Journal 2011 [Epub Ahead of Print]

Adult Degenerative Deformity:  A Review
Kotwal S, Hughes A, Pumberger M, Girardi F
The HSS Journal 2011 [Epub Ahead of Print]

For more publications, please see the PubMed listing.

Selected Books/Chapters

Holly L, Hughes A. Bone Biology and Lumbar Fusion. Resnick, Haid, and Wang. Surgical Management of Low Back Pain, 2nd ed. Thieme, New York, 2007.

Selected Presentations

Risk Factors for Postoperative Infection Following Posterior Lumbar Instrumented Fusion
Hughes A, Sama AA, Gausden E, Girardi FP, Cammisa FP
International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine
Auckland, New Zealand (April 13, 2010)

Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection Following Instrumented Spinal Fusion
Koutsoumbelis S, Hughes A, Gausden E, Cammisa FP, Sama AA.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery
San Diego, CA (February 18, 2011)

Surgical Approach to the Spine:  An Update for Neurologists
Hughes A
Neuromuscular Directions 2011
New York, NY (March 17, 2011)

Patient Risk Factors for Failure in Stand Alone Lateral Interbody Lumbar Fusion
Pumberger, M, Hughes A, Cammisa FP, Abjornsen C, Huang R, Girardi FP
International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
Las Vegas, NV (April 29, 2011)

 

Research Description

Integrated Spine Research Program (ISRP)
Dr. Hughes is a member of the ISRP.  The ISRP combines experience from experts involved in both surgical and non surgical spine patient care along with PhD researchers with backgrounds in basic science and engineering.  The mission of the ISRP is to progress technology from "Discovery to Recovery" thereby improving treatments and outcomes for patients.   

Research Interests

Minimally invasive approaches to complex spinal pathologies
Outcome Registries
Endplate diffusion
Nerve Deficits and Injury