Brett Rocos, MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Spine Surgeon
My Locations
About Me
I specialize in the treatment of complex sacral, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spinal disorders in adults using less invasive and open techniques. I have a special interest in the treatment of spinal deformity affecting the cervical or thoracolumbar spine and managing spinal trauma. I aim to care for patients through close collaboration, taking my time to ensure that everyone understands their particular condition and helping each individual make the treatment decision that is right for them and their particular circumstances. Every patient is a person with their own needs and wants, and so I treat each as I would like to be treated at every stage. My team and I are here to help patients with concerns and questions before, during, and after treatment.
- Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery 2022
- Assistant Professor in Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery 2023
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Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
Clinical Focus and Research
My research focuses on spinal deformity in adults and children, trauma, and surgical safety. I collaborate with researchers nationally and internationally to identify surgical risks and optimize patient care. Through my research, I work to improve the care and outcomes for patients by investigating how effective different treatments are and how we can make treatment for spine disease safer and more effective.
- Fresh Tissue Lab Agreement awarded by Medacta USA 2025 - 2025
- Brown, Marsalis Christian, Christopher Quincy Lin, Christopher Jin, Matthew Rohde, Brett Rocos, Jonathan Belding, Barrett I. Woods, and Stacey J. Ackerman. “Effect of a Digital Health Exercise Program on the Intention for Spinal Surgery in Adult Spinal Deformity: Exploratory Cross-Sectional Survey.” JMIR Form Res 9 (April 29, 2025): e66889. https://doi.org/10.2196/66889.
- Sardi, Juan P., Justin S. Smith, Jeffrey L. Gum, Brett Rocos, Anastasios Charalampidis, Lawrence G. Lenke, Christopher I. Shaffrey, et al. “Opioid Use Prior to Adult Spine Deformity Correction Surgery is Associated With Worse Pre- and Postoperative Back Pain and Prolonged Opioid Demands.” Global Spine J 15, no. 3 (April 2025): 1749–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682241261662.
- Machida, Masayoshi, Brett Rocos, Katsuaki Taira, Naho Nemoto, Noboru Oikawa, Hirofumi Ohashi, Shutaro Aiba, and Kazuyoshi Nakanishi. “The Change of Asymptomatic Atlantoaxial Instability With Down Syndrome From Infant to Adolescent in Japanese Population: Minimum 10 Years Follow-Up.” J Pediatr Orthop 45, no. 3 (March 1, 2025): 173–76. https://doi.org/10.1097/BPO.0000000000002865.
- Rocos, B., R. Manoharan, S. Kato, and M. G. Fehlings. “Assessment of cervical alignment and deformity.” In Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: From Basic Science to Clinical Practice, 123–43, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95334-4.00015-2.
- Sardar, Z., G. Swamy, G. Yoshida, M. P. Kelly, S. Strantzas, S. Basu, K. Kwan, et al. “Intraoperative neuromonitoring has a poor correlation with postoperative neurological deficits in noncord level adult deformity surgery.” In Spine Journal, 24:S55, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2024.06.548.
- Theologis, A. A., M. C. Gupta, G. Swamy, G. Yoshida, M. P. Kelly, S. Strantzas, S. Basu, et al. “Rapid response during spinal deformity surgery can successfully save spinal cord function using intraoperative monitoring.” In Spine Journal, 24:S144, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2024.06.184.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
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Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
- Aetna/CVS Health
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Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
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Cigna
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
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*Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
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Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
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Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
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Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
- MedCost
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Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
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NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- WellCare of North Carolina
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TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
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United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)**
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
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**Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.
External Relationships
- Bioventus
- Medtronic
- National Scoliosis Clinic
- Silony Medical International AIG