Board-Certified Spine Specialist Serving Edison, NJ
Finding a spine specialist in Edison NJ with the experience, credentials, and innovation to truly help you can be difficult — but Dr. Alok Sharan, MD, MHCDS, makes world-class spine care accessible right here in Middlesex County. A board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon, Dr. Sharan has pioneered the awake spinal fusion technique in the United States — allowing patients to undergo spine surgery in Edison with regional anesthesia, no general anesthesia, and same-day discharge in most cases. His practice serves patients throughout Middlesex County including Woodbridge, Piscataway, Metuchen, New Brunswick, and beyond.
Edison Spine Surgeon: Quick Facts
- Surgeon: Dr. Alok Sharan, MD, MHCDS, a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon (American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery) with more than 20 years of experience.
- Office: Spine and Performance Institute, 35-37 Progress St, Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820.
- Phone and hours: (732) 898-3950, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Specialty: awake spinal fusion and decompression under regional (spinal) anesthesia instead of general anesthesia, with same-day discharge for most patients.
- Training: spine fellowship at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases; Master of Health Care Delivery Science (MHCDS), Dartmouth.
- Research and teaching: 100+ peer-reviewed publications; Deputy Editor of the journal Clinical Spine Surgery; co-editor of the textbook Awake Spine Surgery (Thieme, 2025).
- Patient reviews: 4.9 stars from more than 200 Google reviews.
- Independent profiles: Doximity, Healthgrades, Google Scholar, ORCID.
Years Experience
Why Choose Dr. Sharan as Your Spine Specialist?
Board-certified — American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship-trained at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
MHCDS — Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy
Castle Connolly Top Doctor & NY Magazine Best Doctor
Pioneer of awake spinal fusion in the United States
Deputy Editor, Clinical Spine Surgery (peer-reviewed journal)
201 five-star Google reviews — 5.0 rating
100+ peer-reviewed published studies
Spine Conditions Treated by Our Edison NJ Specialist
Awake vs. Traditional Spine Surgery — The Difference a Specialist Makes
As the pioneering spine specialist in Edison NJ, Dr. Sharan offers a fundamentally different surgical experience. Where traditional spine surgery requires general anesthesia and a multi-day hospital stay, his awake technique uses regional anesthesia — keeping patients comfortable and conscious throughout — and enables same-day discharge in most cases.
| Traditional Spine Specialist | Dr. Sharan — Awake Spine Specialist Edison NJ |
|---|---|
| General anesthesia | Regional anesthesia with sedation |
| 1–3 day hospital stay | Same-day discharge in most cases |
| 6–12 week recovery | 2–4 week recovery |
| Higher complication risk | Fewer complications, less blood loss |
| Higher cost | Lower cost, most insurance accepted |
Dr. Alok Sharan — Spine Specialist in Edison and Middlesex County
Dr. Alok Sharan, MD, MHCDS, is the spine specialist Edison NJ patients trust for complex spine conditions. Fellowship-trained at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, he is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, NY Magazine Best Doctor, and has published over 100 peer-reviewed studies across his 20+ year career. As Deputy Editor of Clinical Spine Surgery, he is nationally recognized for advancing minimally invasive spine surgery and pioneering the awake spinal fusion technique. His Edison office at 35-37 Progress St., Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820 serves patients from across New Jersey who want the best in spine care without traveling to New York City.
Visiting Our Edison Office
Dr. Sharan sees patients at the Spine and Performance Institute, 35-37 Progress St, Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820. Get directions.
If you already have an MRI or CT scan, you can upload your images securely before your consultation so they are ready to review at your visit.
Patients come to the Edison office from Metuchen, Woodbridge, Piscataway, New Brunswick and the rest of Middlesex County, as well as Monmouth and Somerset counties and New York City.
The Research Behind Awake Spine Surgery
Dr. Sharan does not only perform awake spine surgery in Edison; he studies it and teaches it to other surgeons. A few examples you can check for yourself:
- Reconsidering Anesthesia in Lumbar Surgery: An Umbrella Review of Awake Versus General Anesthesia, Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025 (co-author). The review found that spinal anesthesia may shorten operating time and hospital stays and reduce blood loss compared with general anesthesia, while noting that larger, standardized studies are still needed.
- Awake Spine Surgery (Thieme, 2025), the textbook Dr. Sharan co-edited for surgeons adopting the technique.
- Dr. Sharan’s AO Spine article on performing lumbar fusion under regional anesthesia with same-day discharge.
See the publications page or his Google Scholar profile for more.
Frequently Asked Questions — Spine Specialist Edison NJ
What qualifications should I look for in a spine specialist in Edison NJ?
Look for board certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, fellowship training in spine surgery, and a track record of peer-reviewed research and recognized excellence. Dr. Sharan meets all of these criteria and is further recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor with a 4.9-star average from more than 200 Google reviews.
Does the spine specialist in Edison NJ accept my insurance?
Most major insurance plans are accepted. Call (732) 898-3950 to verify your coverage before your appointment.
Do I need a referral to see a spine specialist in Edison NJ?
No referral is required. Contact us directly at (732) 898-3950 or visit our contact page. You can also upload your MRI for advance review.
Where is the spine specialist office located in Edison NJ?
The Spine and Performance Institute is located at 35-37 Progress St., Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820, easily accessible from Routes 1, 9, and the Garden State Parkway. Call (732) 898-3950.
Which spine surgeon in Edison, NJ performs awake spinal fusion?
Dr. Alok Sharan, MD, MHCDS, at the Spine and Performance Institute, 35-37 Progress St, Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820, performs spinal fusion and decompression under regional (spinal) anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. He co-edited the textbook Awake Spine Surgery (Thieme, 2025). Whether awake surgery is right for you is decided at your consultation; call (732) 898-3950.
How long has Dr. Sharan been practicing spine surgery?
Dr. Sharan has more than 20 years of experience as an orthopedic spine surgeon. He completed his spine fellowship at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers.
Dial 732-898-3950 now to schedule a consultation with Edison NJ’s leading spine specialist.
Edison patients seeking specialized spine care may also benefit from our back pain doctor services in Edison NJ and sciatica treatment in Edison NJ. Dr. Sharan also serves nearby communities including Woodbridge, Piscataway, and Metuchen. Patients with primarily back-focused concerns may also benefit from our dedicated back specialist services in Edison NJ and our back doctor in Edison NJ page, which covers both non-surgical and surgical treatment pathways.
