Dr. Zeeshan Sardar, MD, MSc, F.R.C.S.C
Co-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery • Director, Quality & Patient Safety • Medical Director, Spine Unit
Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University • New York, NY
Dr. Sardar treats patients age 10 and older across the full spectrum of spinal conditions — from common lumbar and cervical disorders to the most complex spinal deformity, revision, and reconstruction cases. Select your condition below to learn more.
SPINAL DEFORMITY
Dr. Sardar is Co-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery at Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian and specializes in the full range of deformity conditions in both adolescents and adults — including many complex cases that are referred from other centers.
Scoliosis
- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)
The most common spinal deformity in adolescents; surgical correction with posterior spinal fusion and robotic instrumentation when indicated - Scoliosis in Young Adults (Ages 18–25)
Curve management at the transition from adolescent to adult care; monitoring, second opinions, and surgical planning for progressive curves - Adult Scoliosis
Progressive curvature in adults causing pain, nerve compression, and functional decline; correction and stabilization through complex spinal reconstruction - Scoliosis in Adults Over 50
Late-presenting or progressive scoliosis in the 50–80 age range; balanced approach to correction, decompression, and osteoporosis management - Congenital Scoliosis
Scoliosis from vertebral malformations present at birth; hemivertebra resection, growing rod constructs, or posterior spinal fusion depending on age and curve type - Osteoid Osteoma of the Spine
Painful scoliosis in young patients from a small benign bone tumor; one of the most commonly missed diagnoses in adolescent spine care
Revision & Complex
- Harrington Rod Complications & Revision
Late complications of 1960s–1980s Harrington rod surgery — flatback deformity, adjacent segment disease, hardware failure — requiring revision reconstruction - Complex Revision Spine Surgery
Failed prior surgery from any cause — pseudarthrosis, hardware failure, adjacent segment disease, or progressive deformity — requiring re-operation at a high-volume deformity center - Revision Surgery After VBT Failure
Tether breakage, curve progression, overcorrection, or undercorrection after vertebral body tethering — evaluation for re-tethering or conversion to posterior spinal fusion - When Scoliosis Surgery Doesn’t Go As Planned
Pseudarthrosis, hardware failure, coronal imbalance, adding-on, and late infection after scoliosis fusion — independent evaluation and revision at Columbia University - Individualized Surgery — Custom Rods & Patient-Specific Implants
CT-based robotic planning, custom-contoured rods, and patient-specific implant selection for anatomy that falls outside standard sizing
CERVICAL SPINE (NECK)
Dr. Sardar performs the full range of cervical spine surgery — anterior and posterior — and selects the approach based on each patient’s specific anatomy, alignment, and pathology. He completed a dedicated fellowship in artificial disc replacement at the Texas Back Institute.
Conditions
- Cervical Myelopathy
Spinal cord compression in the neck causing hand clumsiness, gait unsteadiness, and weakness; surgery is generally recommended once moderate myelopathy is established. - Cervical Radiculopathy
Pinched nerve in the neck causing arm pain, numbness, or weakness; most patients improve with conservative care. - Cervical Disc Herniation
Ruptured disc in the neck compressing a nerve root or the spinal cord. - Cervical Spondylosis
Age-related degenerative arthritis of the neck causing pain, stiffness, radiculopathy, or myelopathy. - C1–C2 Instability & Atlantoaxial Fusion
Instability at the first and second cervical vertebrae from rheumatoid arthritis, os odontoideum, trauma, or congenital anomaly — a serious and frequently underdiagnosed condition requiring specialist upper cervical surgery. - Rheumatoid Arthritis & the Spine
Atlantoaxial instability, cranial settling, and subaxial subluxation from rheumatoid arthritis — conditions that can compress the spinal cord and require specialist surgical evaluation.
Procedures
- Cervical Disc Replacement
Motion-preserving alternative to fusion for 1–2 level disc disease; FDA-approved; supported by 10+ years of randomized trial data showing lower adjacent level reoperation rates than ACDF. - ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion)
The most commonly performed cervical surgery; decompresses nerve root or cord and fuses the treated level through a small front-of-neck incision. - Cervical Laminoplasty
Motion-preserving posterior decompression for multilevel cervical stenosis; an alternative to multilevel fusion when lordosis is preserved. - Posterior Cervical Laminectomy & Fusion
Posterior decompression and stabilization for multilevel stenosis, cervical kyphosis, or instability — including rheumatoid-related subluxation and C1–C2 reconstruction.
LUMBAR SPINE (LOWER BACK)
Dr. Sardar uses robotic-assisted navigation (Mazor X Stealth Edition) as standard in all instrumented lumbar procedures, with intraoperative CT verification of every screw position before the case closes.
Conditions
- Lower Back Pain
Evaluation and appropriate management of lower back pain — including honest guidance on when surgery is and is not appropriate. - Lumbar Disc Herniation, Sciatica & Radiculopathy
Herniated lumbar disc causing leg pain, numbness, or weakness; most patients improve with conservative care. - Lumbar Stenosis & Neurogenic Claudication
Narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal causing leg pain and heaviness with walking; relieved by sitting or bending forward. - Lumbar Spondylolisthesis (Adults)
Vertebral slip causing back and leg pain; the most common type in adults occurs at L4–L5 from facet joint degeneration.
Procedures
- Lumbar Microdiscectomy
Minimally invasive removal of herniated disc fragments compressing a lumbar nerve root; leg pain relief in over 90% of appropriately selected patients. - MIS Lumbar Decompression
Minimally invasive laminectomy for focal lumbar stenosis without instability; same-day or overnight surgery. - Robotic Lumbar Fusion & TLIF
Robotic-assisted instrumented lumbar fusion with Mazor X Stealth Edition navigation; intraoperative CT confirms all screw positions before closure. - Lumbar Disc Replacement
Motion-preserving alternative to lumbar fusion for selected patients with single-level disc disease and preserved facet joint health.
PEDIATRIC & ADOLESCENT SPINE
Dr. Sardar treats patients from age 10 through adulthood. He is an active member of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) and works within a multidisciplinary team at NewYork-Presbyterian to manage complex pediatric spine conditions.
- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) — the most common spinal deformity in children and adolescents; surgical correction when curves exceed thresholds or progress during growth
- Congenital Scoliosis — scoliosis from vertebral malformations; managed with hemivertebra resection, growing rod constructs, or posterior spinal fusion
- Scheuermann’s Kyphosis — structural kyphosis in adolescents from vertebral wedging; surgical correction when the curve is severe or rigid
- Spondylolisthesis in Children & Adolescents — vertebral slip in young athletes; managed with activity modification, bracing, or surgery depending on grade and symptoms
- Spondylolysis (Pars Stress Fracture) — stress fracture of the pars interarticularis in young athletes; most cases heal with rest, bracing, and rehabilitation
- Osteoid Osteoma of the Spine — a small benign bone tumor causing painful scoliosis in young patients; one of the most commonly missed diagnoses in adolescent spine care
- Spinal Disorders in Achondroplasia — cervical stenosis, lumbar stenosis, and thoracolumbar kyphosis in achondroplasia patients; requires expertise in both deformity correction and decompression surgery
TECHNOLOGY & APPROACH
Across all conditions and procedures, Dr. Sardar uses the most advanced technology available at Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian.
- Robotic-Assisted Spine Surgery — preoperative planning on a 3D model of each patient’s anatomy; robotic guidance for all instrumented procedures; intraoperative CT verification at end of every case
- Individualized Surgery — Custom Rods, Robotic Planning & Patient-Specific Implants — fully individualized surgical planning integrating custom rods, patient-specific interbody cages, and intraoperative CT for complex deformity and revision cases
- Motion-Preserving Spine Surgery — cervical and lumbar disc replacement, laminoplasty, and posterior foraminotomy as alternatives to fusion in appropriately selected patients
- Intraoperative Neuromonitoring — continuous real-time monitoring of spinal cord and nerve root function throughout all procedures involving neural structures
- Intraoperative CT (O-arm) — imaging confirmation of implant position before the patient leaves the operating room
- Cell Salvage — intraoperative recycling of the patient’s own blood in major reconstructive procedures
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS & SERVICES
- Rheumatoid Arthritis & the Spine — atlantoaxial instability, cranial settling, and subaxial subluxation requiring specialist surgical evaluation and coordination with rheumatology
- Spinal Disorders in Achondroplasia — cervical stenosis, lumbar stenosis, and thoracolumbar kyphosis in achondroplasia patients; specialized surgical planning and implant selection required
- Osteoporosis & Spine Surgery — bone density evaluation and optimization before instrumented fusion; augmented fixation techniques for osteoporotic bone
- Vertebral Compression Fractures & Kyphoplasty — minimally invasive stabilization of painful osteoporotic spine fractures
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction — a common cause of lower back and buttock pain that frequently mimics lumbar disc disease
- Telemedicine & Out-of-State Consultations — available in NY, NJ, CT, FL, PA, MO, CA, and TX; second opinions welcome
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
If you have been told your case is too complex, that nothing more can be done, or that you need surgery but aren’t sure — Dr. Sardar will give you a clear, honest, expert assessment. Second opinions are always welcome.
Telemedicine available in NY, NJ, CT, FL, PA, MO, CA & TX • International patients: +1-212-746-9100 (NYP Global Services)