Alexander Vaccaro, MD, is a spine surgeon with Rothman Institute and vice chairman of the department of orthopedics at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He also serves as the co-director of the regional spinal cord injury center at Delaware Valley and co-director of the spine fellowship program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Vaccaro is also an assistant team physician for the Philadelphia Eagles. He has treated several athletes at all levels and last year worked with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby after a spinal injury was suspected.
“When you are treating high-level athletes, your primary responsibility is to protect the patient from any sort of further injury and allow them to heal,” says Dr. Vaccaro. “Your final goal is to return them to the same level of play, if possible. In some cases, you may have an injury that would prevent the athlete from returning to play. The literature is somewhat confused regarding patients who have a spinal cord injury and make a full recovery in the absence of deformity or any instability. The literature says if there is no evidence of radiographic parameters that would lead to another injury, athletes who have a full functional return may return to play. This, however, is individual player specific.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Vaccaro has engaged in spine-related research published in professional journals. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Scoliosis Research Society and Cervical Spine Research Society. He has been a reviewer for the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
Dr. Vaccaro earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed a PhD in spinal trauma. His additional training includes an orthopedic surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University and a spine fellowship at the University of San Diego. He was also selected to an AOA-Japanese Orthopaedic Traveling Fellow.
“When you are treating high-level athletes, your primary responsibility is to protect the patient from any sort of further injury and allow them to heal,” says Dr. Vaccaro. “Your final goal is to return them to the same level of play, if possible. In some cases, you may have an injury that would prevent the athlete from returning to play. The literature is somewhat confused regarding patients who have a spinal cord injury and make a full recovery in the absence of deformity or any instability. The literature says if there is no evidence of radiographic parameters that would lead to another injury, athletes who have a full functional return may return to play. This, however, is individual player specific.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Vaccaro has engaged in spine-related research published in professional journals. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Scoliosis Research Society and Cervical Spine Research Society. He has been a reviewer for the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
Dr. Vaccaro earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed a PhD in spinal trauma. His additional training includes an orthopedic surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University and a spine fellowship at the University of San Diego. He was also selected to an AOA-Japanese Orthopaedic Traveling Fellow.