How to Choose the Best Spine Surgeon in New Jersey

Paradoxically, one of the most important qualities in a spine surgeon is the willingness to not operate. Most spine conditions — including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease — can be managed without surgery in the right patient. The best surgeons are those who exhaust conservative treatment first: physical therapy, targeted injections, pain management, and activity modification.

Surgery becomes appropriate when:

Conservative treatment has been tried for 6–12 weeks without meaningful improvement

There is progressive neurological deficit (weakness, loss of bowel/bladder control)

Imaging findings correlate with clinical symptoms

The patient’s quality of life is severely impaired and surgical risk is acceptable

Dr. Sharan sees patients across conditions including herniated disc, spinal stenosis, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and scoliosis — and takes a conservative-first approach unless clinical urgency demands otherwise.

Where a surgeon operates matters as much as how they operate. Hospital privileges are granted by credentialing committees that independently verify training, board certification, malpractice history, and competency. A surgeon with privileges at a reputable hospital has passed an external review process.

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasingly preferred for appropriate spine cases. ASCs tend to have lower infection rates than hospitals, more efficient operating schedules, and cost structures that benefit patients. For awake spine surgery in particular — where same-day discharge is the goal — ASCs are ideal.

Dr. Sharan operates at accredited surgical facilities serving Middlesex County, Union County, and surrounding NJ regions

His awake technique is designed for ASC settings, reducing hospital overhead and enabling same-day discharge for eligible fusion patients

Affiliated with Spine and Performance Institute, 35-37 Progress St., Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820

Outcomes data is the ultimate measure of surgical quality — and very few surgeons proactively share it. When evaluating the best spine surgeon in New Jersey, ask directly: What is your same-day discharge rate? What is your opioid prescription rate post-operatively? What are your complication and revision rates?

Same-day discharge: The majority of Dr. Sharan’s fusion patients go home the same day as surgery — not to a hospital floor or rehab facility

Opioid reduction: Awake surgery eliminates the need for opioid-heavy general anesthesia protocols; most patients require minimal or no opioids post-operatively

Faster return to activity: Patients typically resume light activity within days and return to work within weeks rather than months

Complication profile: Avoiding general anesthesia eliminates an entire class of systemic complications — cardiac stress, pulmonary issues, post-operative cognitive dysfunction

Patient reviews are not vanity metrics — they are a systematic signal about communication, follow-through, and post-operative care. Look for surgeons with a high volume of verified reviews (not self-reported testimonials) and read the narrative, not just the star rating.

What to look for in reviews:

Did the surgeon clearly explain the diagnosis and plan?

Was the patient seen promptly and treated with respect?

Did the outcome match what was promised?

How did the staff and care team perform?

Dr. Alok Sharan holds a 5.0 Google rating with 201 five-star reviews — one of the highest verified review counts among spine surgeons in New Jersey. Read patient testimonials here.

Patients consistently travel from across New Jersey — and from New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut — to receive care at The Spine and Performance Institute in Edison. The reasons are consistent:

The awake technique is rare. Most hospitals and spine practices do not offer awake spinal fusion. Patients who want it have a small national pool of qualified surgeons — and Dr. Sharan is among the most experienced in the country.

Same-day discharge changes the calculus. When patients can return home the same day rather than spending two to three nights in a hospital, the logistics of traveling to Edison become more manageable — not less.

Edison is accessible from across NJ. Located just off the Garden State Parkway and Route 1, Edison draws patients from Woodbridge, New Brunswick, Piscataway, Westfield, Somerville, and communities throughout Middlesex, Union, Somerset, and Monmouth counties.

One surgeon, one decision. Dr. Sharan handles the full arc of care — consultation, surgical planning, procedure, and post-operative follow-up — so patients are never handed off between providers.