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Arash Emami, M.D.

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Board-Certified: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Arash Emami is nationally recognized as a pioneer and a highly accomplished orthopedic spine surgeon in both operative and nonsurgical treatment of adult and pediatric spinal disorders. He is board-certified and fellowship-trained in both Orthopedic Surgery and Spinal Surgery and specializes in major spinal disorders as well as complex spinal reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Emami achieved a significant milestone as the first spine surgeon in New Jersey to successfully perform cervical and lumbar disc arthroplasty, offering patients innovative alternatives to traditional fusion procedures, and he has been pushing the boundaries of effective orthopedic treatments ever since.

As one of the first surgeons in the state to introduce minimally-invasive spinal surgery, Dr. Emami has been dedicated to revolutionizing spinal treatments with groundbreaking techniques and research. His novel research and original publications on the safety of outpatient spinal surgeries have earned him widespread recognition. Doing his part in ensuring that the field of orthopedic surgery continues to evolve for the better, Dr. Emami has trained and mentored hundreds of orthopedic surgeons and shared his knowledge and novel surgical techniques through hundreds of presentations at scientific meetings worldwide.

Dr. Emami’s impressive credentials include serving as the Chairman of Orthopedics and Chief of Spine Surgery at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, where he continues to bring exceptional care to his patients. He also holds the esteemed position of Associate Professor of Orthopedics at Seton Hall University.

His exceptional skills and contributions have earned him a place in the media spotlight, with features on major networks such as ABC, CBS, and HBO, as well as The Star Ledger. Dr. Emami’s dedication to patient care and excellence in his field have led to prestigious recognitions, including being recognized as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly for 18 consecutive years and for nine years by New Jersey Monthly.

Beyond his accolades, Dr. Emami has also had the privilege of being the treating physician and spine surgeon for numerous professional hockey and football players, solidifying his reputation as a trusted expert among athletes. As a founder of both University Spine Center and OrthoEast, Dr. Emami takes great pride in surrounding himself with highly skilled and committed surgical colleagues. In his own words, “our goal is to make people feel better and return to a life without pain, when surgery is the only option, our success rate is exemplary.”

With Dr. Arash Emami, you can be confident that you are in the care of a visionary and compassionate spine surgeon who continues to redefine the boundaries of spinal treatment. Dr. Emami is currently accepting new patients at the Wayne, Clifton, and Manhattan OrthoEast offices.

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Dr. Arash Emami’s Specialties

Dr. Emami specializes in operative and nonsurgical treatment of adult and pediatric spinal disorders.

  • check Adult Spine Procedures
  • check Pediatric Spine Procedures
  • check Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • check Alternatives To Fusion

Dr. Arash Emami’s Education & Achievements

Get to know Dr. Emami — a leading orthopedic spine surgeon at OrthoEast.

University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine

General and Orthopedic Surgery, University of Chicago

University of California at San Francisco, Orthopedic Surgery and Spinal Surgery

  • American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
  • North American Spine Society
  • Scoliosis Research Society
  • Society of Lateral Spine Surgery
  • Society of Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • New Jersey Orthopedic Society
  • New Jersey Spine Surgery Society

  • St. Joseph’s University Medical Center
  • Mt. Sinai St. Luke’s
  • Valley Hospital
  • Englewood Hospital
  • Holy Name Medical Center
  • Morristown Medical Center
  • Chilton Medical Center

  • America’s Top Spine Surgeons
  • New York/New Jersey Top Doctors: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023
  • NJ Favorite Kids’ Doctor: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023
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Dr. Arash Emami’s Publications

Comparing clinical and radiological outcomes between single-level OLIF and XLIF: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The 5-factor modified Frailty Index (mFI-5) predicts adverse outcomes after elective Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after elective lumbar spinal fusion: Who is at risk?

Obesity Does Not Adversely Affect Long-term Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Matched Cohort Analysis

Should we bridge the cervicothoracic junction in long cervical fusions? A meta-analysis and systematic review of the literature

Long-term Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion in the Treatment of Adult Scoliosis

Does Percutaneous Lumbosacral Pedicle Screw Instrumentation Prevent Long-Term Adjacent Segment Disease after Lumbar Fusion?

Comparing Mid-Term Outcomes Between ACDF and Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy in the Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy

Metal-on-metal versus metal-on-plastic artificial discs in two-level anterior cervical disc replacement: a meta-analysis with follow-up of 5 years or more

Clinical Differences Between Monomicrobial and Polymicrobial Vertebral Osteomyelitis

Two-Attending Surgeon Teams Improve Outcomes of Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

The Epidemiology of Vertebral Osteomyelitis in the United States From 1998 to 2013

Letter to the editor regarding “To cross or not to cross the cervicothoracic junction in multilevel posterior cervical fusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis”

Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion in the Outpatient Setting

Risk Factors for Pseudarthrosis in Minimally-Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Outcomes of Instrumented and Noninstrumented Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion

Comparison of Instrumented and Noninstrumented Surgical Treatment of Severe Vertebral Osteomyelitis

Ultra-low-dose recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 for 3-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion

Does obesity affect long-term outcomes of extreme lateral interbody fusion with posterior stabilization?

Cervical corpectomy with ultra-low-dose rhBMP-2 in high-risk patients: 5-year outcomes

Reply to the Letter to the Editor: Incidence of Neuraxial Abnormalities Is Approximately 8% Among Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Meta-analysis

Accuracy and Safety of Percutaneous Lumbosacral Pedicle Screw Placement Using Dual-Planar Intraoperative Fluoroscopy

Delay in Diagnosis of Vertebral Osteomyelitis Affects the Utility of Cultures

Evaluation of Spine Questions on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination: An Update from 2013 to 2017

Cervical Computed Tomography Angiography Rarely Leads to Intervention in Patients With Cervical Spine Fractures

Short-Segment Fixation With Percutaneous Pedicle Screws in the Treatment of Unstable Thoracolumbar Vertebral Body Fractures

Minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy with tubes to prevent undesired fusion: a long-term follow-up study

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in acute cervical spine fractures

The 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index is Associated With Increased Risk of Reoperations and Adjacent Level Disease Following Single-Level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Cervical Spinal Stenosis with Coexisting Rotator Cuff Tear: A Nationwide Review of Records from 2005 to 2014

Cervical Spinal Stenosis in the Setting of Recurrent Shoulder Instability: A Nationwide Review of Records from 2007 to 2014

Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy as an Alternative to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Unilateral Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Hip flexion contracture caused by an intraspinal osteochondroma of the lumbar spine

Incidence of Neuraxial Abnormalities Is Approximately 8% Among Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Meta-analysis

Should patient eligibility criteria for cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) be expanded?: A retrospective cohort analysis of relatively contraindicated patients undergoing CDA

Outcome and complications of long fusions to the sacrum in adult spine deformity: luque-galveston, combined iliac and sacral screws, and sacral fixation