robert-banco-md

Dr. Banco received his BA degree from Gettysburg College and his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed his surgical internship, bone biology and metabolism fellowship, and his orthopaedic residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Then he completed a spine fellowship at the New England Baptist Hospital.
Dr. Banco was spine section chief of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for New England Baptist Hospital from 1997-2007. During his tenure as chief at NEBH, the spine section expanded from six surgeons to fourteen. The spine section produced over 150 publications and presentations and took part in 12 FDA IDE studies. After 10 years as chief, Dr. Banco decided to step down so that he could pursue other academic initiatives. For over 15 years, Dr. Banco was the president and senior partner at the Boston Spine Group. In 2015, he started the Boston Spine Care Group practice.
Dr. Banco keeps current on medical knowledge by instructing various courses locally and nationally. His research interests include the outcome of lumbar fusions, cervical myopathy, cervical and lumbar interbody fusion devices, bone graft substitutes, prosthetic disc replacement devices, and image guided surgery. In 2013, The Becker’s Spine Review listed Dr. Banco as one of the top 102 spine surgeons who have made significant contributions to the field of spine surgery through research, innovation or leadership positions.
Dr. Banco currently is an associate clinical professor in the orthopaedic surgery department at Tufts University School of Medicine. He is also a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery (SOLAS®), an organization with the intent is to foster research, training initiatives, and peer-to-peer communication that help define and advance the science and art of lateral access surgery and, particularly, the XLIF® approach. SOLAS was created by and is solely supported by funding from NuVasive®, Inc. SOLAS is shaping the future of lateral access spine surgery through collaboration among members, sharing of ideas, and the promotion of less invasive techniques that benefit patient, physician, and hospital. Learn more by visiting www.lateralaccess.org.
Dr. Banco is licensed and board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Awards
Boston Magazine Top Doctor (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Compassionate Doctor Award – 5 Year Honoree (2020)
America’s Most Honored Professionals Top 1% (2016)
Vitals On-Time Doctor Award (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Castle Connolly Patient’s Choice Award (2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Castle Connolly Top Doctor Award (2009-2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
The Becker’s Spine Review, Top 102 Spine Surgeons (2013)
The Best Doctors in America each year since 2009
Tufts Orthopedic Residency Teaching Award (2010)
Memberships
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
New England Spine Study Group
North American Spine Society
 Recent Publications
Fehlings M, Barry S, Kopjar B, Yoon T, Arnold P, Massicotte E, Vaccaro A, Bodke D, Shaffery C, Smith J, Woodard E, Banco R, et al: Anterior Versus Posterior Approaches to Treat Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. Spine 38 (26):2247-2252, 2013
Fehlings M, Smith J, Kpojar B, Arnold P, Yoon T, Vaccaro A, Brodke D, Janssen M, Chapman J, Sasso R, Woodard E, Banco R, et al: Perioperative and Delayed Complications Associated with the Surgical Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Based on 302 Patients from the AOSpine North America Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Study. J. Neurosurg Spine 2012. 2012 May;16(5):425-32. Epub 2012 Feb 10.
Fehlings M, Branko K, Yoon ST, Arnold P, Massicotte E, Vaccaro A, Brodke D, Shaffrey C, Smith J, Woodard E, Banco R, et al: Is Surgical Decompression in Patients with Mild Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Effective? Results of the Prospective, Controlled, Multicenter AOSpine North America CSM Study. Submitted to JAMA.
 Arnold P, Fehlings M, Kopjar B, Yoon T, Massicotte E, Vaccaro A, Brodke D, Shaffrey C, Smith J, Woodard E, Banco R, et. al: Impact of diabetes on Outcomes of Surgical Decompression for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Results of the AOSpine North America Multi-Center Prospective Study (CSM). Submitted to The Spine Journal April 12, 2012
 Fehlings M, Wilson J, Kopjar B, Yoon T, Arnold P, Massicotte E, Vaccaro, A, Bordke
D, Shaffrey C, Smith J, Woodard E, Banco R, et. al.: Efficacy and safety of surgical Decompression in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Results of the AOSpine North American Multi-Centre Study. JBJS Am. 2013;95:1651-8.
 Jenis L., Banco R: Efficacy of Silicated-Substituted Calcium Phosphate Ceramic in Posterolateral Instrumented Lumbar Fusion. Spine 35(20): E1058-E1063, 2010.
Dai F, Belfer I, Schwartz C, Banco R, Martha J, Tighioughart H, Tromanhauser S, Jenis L, Kim DH: Association of COMT Genetic Variants with Better Outcome in Patients Undergoing Surgical treatment for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease. The Spine Journal (10):949-957,2010. 
Kim DH, Dai F, Belfer I, Banco R, Martha J, Tighioughart H, Tromanhauser S, Jenis L, Hunter D, Schwartz C: Polymorphic Variation of the GTP Cyclohydrolase
1 Gene Predicts Outcome in Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease. Spine 35(21): 1909-1914 2010.
Kim DH, Jenis L, Tromanhauser S, Banco RJ: Prospective Study of Iliac Crest Bone Graft Harvest Site Pain and Morbidity. The Spine Journal (9):886-892, 2009.
Guyer RD, McAfee PC, Banco RJ, et al: Prospective, Randomized Multicenter Food and Drug Administration Investigational Device Exemption Study of Lumbar Total Disc Replacement with the Charite` Artificial Disc Versus Lumbar Fusion: Five year Follow Up. The Spine Journal (9):374-386, 2009.