About Dr. Burkhard
Dr. Marco Burkhard is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery specializing in the treatment of degenerative, deformity, and revision conditions of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. He follows a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach that tailors treatment to each individual's anatomy, medical factors, expectations, and functional goals. He emphasizes shared decision-making and believes that clear communication and patient education are essential to long-term success. While many spinal conditions can be managed nonoperatively, when surgery is indicated, he uses advanced imaging and biomechanical planning to guide precise execution and deliver personalized care. He has particular expertise in minimally invasive and muscle-sparing decompression and fusion techniques, as well as in revision and realignment procedures. His goal is to achieve durable outcomes while minimizing disruption to native tissue and promoting rapid recovery.
Originally from Zurich Switzerland, Dr. Burkhard graduated medical school at the University of Zurich and is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon in Switzerland. He completed a six-year orthopedic surgery residency curriculum at numerous leading Swiss institutions, including Balgrist University Hospital, Stadtspital Zurich and the Cantonal Hospital of Graubünden. He further went on to complete fellowships in traumatology and spine surgery at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany and the Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi in Milan, Italy. He then pursued two years of advanced clinical spine surgery fellowship training at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, gaining expertise across the full spectrum of traditional, minimally invasive, and complex deformity techniques.
In parallel with his clinical training, Dr. Burkhard pursued advanced coursework in clinical epidemiology and health services research at Weill Cornell Medicine. His academic interests include three-dimensional spinal biomechanics, spinal alignment, perfusion, and the role of paraspinal muscles in recovery and long-term outcomes. He is passionate about surgical innovation and translational research, and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on spinal biomechanics, the role of paraspinal structures in surgical outcomes, muscle-preserving surgical techniques, and 3Dprinting applications.
Dr. Burkhard brings an international perspective to his clinical practice and academic work. Through his training and collaborations across Europe and the United States, he has developed a broad professional network and understanding of global approaches to spine care. He remains actively engaged in international research and educational initiatives aimed at advancing the field of spine surgery.
Special Expertise
Dr. Burkhard specializes in minimally invasive and muscle-sparing decompression and fusion techniques, as well as revision and deformity correction procedures of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. His clinical and academic interests include three-dimensional spinal biomechanics, spinal alignment, and the role of the paraspinal musculature and spinal perfusion in long-term outcomes. He is a strong proponent of individualized spine care, tailoring each treatment to the patient's anatomy, expectations, and functional goals. Dr. Burkhard is committed to advancing the field through patient-specific innovation and clinical and translational research.
Procedures
Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF)
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
Atlantoaxial fusion (c1-2 fusion)
Cervical disc replacement
Cervical laminoplasty
Complex revision decompression and fusion surgery
Corpectomy
Cortical screw instrumentation
Deformity correction (scoliosis / kyphosis)
Occipitocervical fusion
Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO)
Vertebral column resection (VCR)
Posterior decompression and fusion surgery (cervical, thoracic and lumbar laminectomy, laminotomy,
Foraminotomy)
Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF)
Minimally invasive spine surgery
Muscle-sparing spinal decompression and fusion surgery
Pedicle screw instrumentation
Posterior and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF / TLIF)
Robotic and (augmented-reality) navigated spine surgery
Insurance
This provider is currently in the process of joining the networks of many commercial insurance plans and should show as a participating provider soon.
If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit.
Credentials
Appointments
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Affiliations
AO Spine North America
AO Spine Europe & South Africa
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
Balgrist ALUMNI
EUROSPINE - the Spine Society of Europe
Foederatio Medicorum Helveticorum (FMH)
North American Spine Society (NASS)
Swiss Orthopaedics
University of Zurich (UZH) Alumni
Weill Cornell Medicine - Clinical Epidemiology
Certifications
Global Spine Diploma, 2024
Swiss Board Certification in Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, 2023
Awards
AO Spine Europe & South Africa - Travelling Fellowship Award, 2023
AO Trauma Switzerland - Travelling Fellowship Award, 2022
University of Zurich - International Research Scholarship, 2018
University of Zurich - Best Thesis Award, 2017
Education
Medical: Bachelor of Medicine, University of Zurich, 2014
Master of Medicine, University of Zurich, 2017
Doctor of Medicine, University of Zurich, 2017
Master in Clinical Epidemiology & Health Services Research, Cornell University, New York (2026)
Internship: University Hospital Zurich, 2016
Residency: Stadtspital Zurich, 2019
Balgrist University Hospital, 2021
Cantonal Hospital Graubünden, 2023
Swiss Orthopaedic Board Examination, 2023
Fellowship: Trauma Surgery - AO Trauma Europe, Hamburg, 2022 (2 weeks)
Spine Surgery - AO Spine Europe, Milan, 2023 (6 weeks)
Spine Surgery - Hospital for Special Surgery, 2025 (2 years)
State Licensure
New York
Languages
English, GermanFor My Patients
Publications by Dr. Burkhard
Patient Education
Selected Journal Articles
Standalone lateral lumbar interbody fusion reduces the risk of adjacent segment surgery.
Burkhard MD, Stepan T, Jones C, Lama J, Mjaess N, Guven AE, Mielke AM, Verna B, Girardi FP, Cammisa FP, Sama AA, Hughes AP.
Spine J. 2025 Jul 9:S1529-9430(25)00334-1. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2025.07.008. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40645599
Multifidus Degeneration: The Key Imaging Predictor of Adjacent Segment Disease.
Burkhard MD, Chiapparelli E, Hambrecht J, Köhli P, Guven AE, Tsuchiya K, Schönnagel L, Caffard T, Amoroso K, Altorfer FCS, Evangelisti G, Zhu J, Shue J, Kelly MJ, Girardi FP, Cammisa FP, Sama AA, Hughes AP.
Global Spine J. 2025 May;15(4):2348-2358. doi: 10.1177/21925682241300085. Epub 2024 Nov 6.PMID: 39503528
Loggia G, Farshad M, Jokeit M, Widmer J, Dossi S, Burkhard MD.
Spine J. 2025 Apr 3:S1529-9430(25)00180-9. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2025.03.032. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40187688
Abdominal aortic calcification is associated with impaired fusion after elective spinal fusion.
Burkhard MD, Caffard T, Schönnagel L, Medina S, Guven AE, Mielke AM, Verna B, Chiapparelli E, Loggia G, Gregg AC, Lan R, Shue J, Girardi FP, Cammisa FP, Sama AA, Hughes AP.
Spine J. 2025 Apr 9:S1529-9430(25)00187-1. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2025.04.012. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40216361
Burkhard MD, Evangelisti G, Altorfer FCS, Paschal PK, Achebe CC, Gorgy G, Kelly MJ, Zelenty WD, Girardi FP, Lebl DR, Hughes AP, Cammisa FP, Sama AA, Emerson RG, Sokunbi G.
Global Spine J. 2025 May 8:21925682251341820. doi: 10.1177/21925682251341820. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40340552
Spinal decompression with patient-specific guides.
Burkhard MD, Farshad M, Suter D, Cornaz F, Leoty L, Fürnstahl P, Spirig JM.
Spine J. 2022 Jul;22(7):1160-1168. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2022.01.002. Epub 2022 Jan 10.PMID: 35017055
Pedicle subtraction osteotomy with patient-specific instruments.
Burkhard MD, Suter D, Sigrist B, Fuernstahl P, Farshad M, Spirig JM.
N Am Spine Soc J. 2021 Aug 29;7:100075. doi: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2021.100075. eCollection 2021 Sep.PMID: 35141640
Biomechanics after spinal decompression and posterior instrumentation.
Burkhard MD, Calek AK, Fasser MR, Cornaz F, Widmer J, Spirig JM, Wanivenhaus F, Farshad M.
Eur Spine J. 2023 Jun;32(6):1876-1886. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-07694-5. Epub 2023 Apr 24.PMID: 37093262
Residual motion of different posterior instrumentation and interbody fusion constructs.
Burkhard MD, Spirig JM, Wanivenhaus F, Cornaz F, Fasser MR, Widmer J, Farshad M.
Eur Spine J. 2023 Apr;32(4):1411-1420. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-07597-5. Epub 2023 Feb 23.PMID: 36820922
Posterior spinal instrumentation and decompression with or without cross-link?
Burkhard MD, Cornaz F, Spirig JM, Wanivenhaus F, Loucas R, Fasser MR, Widmer J, Farshad M.
N Am Spine Soc J. 2021 Nov 17;8:100093. doi: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2021.100093. eCollection 2021 Dec.PMID: 35141657
Burkhard MD, Cornaz F, Spirig JM, Wanivenhaus F, Fasser MR, Widmer J, Farshad M.
Eur Spine J. 2023 Apr;32(4):1401-1410. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-07596-6. Epub 2023 Mar 6.PMID: 36877366
Occult infection in pseudarthrosis revision after spinal fusion.
Burkhard MD, Loretz R, Uçkay I, Bauer DE, Betz M, Farshad M.
Spine J. 2021 Mar;21(3):370-376. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.10.015. Epub 2020 Oct 17.PMID: 33080375
Clinical relevance of occult infections in spinal pseudarthrosis revision.
Burkhard MD, Hassanzadeh A, Andronic O, Götschi T, Uçkay I, Farshad M.
N Am Spine Soc J. 2022 Sep 21;12:100172. doi: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2022.100172. eCollection 2022 Dec.PMID: 36185342
Farshad M, Spirig JM, Burkhard MD.
Eur Spine J. 2022 Dec;31(12):3696-3702. doi: 10.1007/s00586-021-06906-0. Epub 2021 Jun 25.PMID: 34173075
Three-dimensionally printed vertebrae with different bone densities for surgical training.
Burkhard M, Fürnstahl P, Farshad M.
Eur Spine J. 2019 Apr;28(4):798-806. doi: 10.1007/s00586-018-5847-y. Epub 2018 Dec 3.PMID: 30511245
For all publications, please see the PubMed listing
Research
Dr. Burkhard has a broad research background spanning biomechanical, translational, and clinical studies. He conducts retrospective and prospective research on spinal alignment, paraspinal muscle health, and spinal perfusion, with a focus on improving outcomes through personalized surgery. He is particularly interested in the role of paraspinal structures in recovery and outcome durability, as well as in the application of muscle-preserving surgical techniques and 3D-printing technologies in spinal reconstruction. His work bridges innovation and clinical relevance and is supported by formal training in clinical epidemiology and health services research at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Industry Relationships
HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.
As of June 14, 2025, Dr. Burkhard reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.
HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.