Neurosurgeon and spine specialist Avery L. Buchholz, MD, FAANS, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the third year he has received the honor. The designation, awarded to only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians each year, recognizes doctors for their specialties in their regions. For patients with complex spinal conditions, this repeated recognition signals a sustained commitment to high-quality care and peer respect.
Dr. Buchholz is a board-certified neurosurgeon with Capital Spine and Pain Institute, a leading interdisciplinary practice known for comprehensive, minimally invasive spine care and targeted pain management. He evaluates and treats a range of complex spine disorders, including adult spinal deformities, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal trauma.
His approach prioritizes conservative, non-surgical treatment protocols whenever appropriate. When surgery is required, care plans are tailored to minimize tissue disruption, reduce recovery times, and optimize clinical outcomes. Key procedures include minimally invasive lumbar discectomy and laminectomy, robotic-assisted spinal fusion and instrumentation, complex adult spinal deformity and scoliosis reconstruction, cervical artificial disc replacement, motion-preservation spinal surgery, and image-guided spinal decompression.
Dr. Buchholz completed his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He completed his neurological surgery residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, followed by a specialized clinical fellowship in complex spinal deformity and pediatric scoliosis surgery at the University of Virginia. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters focused on spinal surgery outcomes, biomechanics, and surgical safety.
The Castle Connolly Top Doctors list is published at castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications. Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. Honorees are chosen based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected, ensuring the list remains a trusted resource for patients seeking top-tier care.
For the medical industry, Dr. Buchholz's third consecutive Top Doctor award underscores the growing importance of minimally invasive techniques and evidence-based care in spine surgery. As the U.S. population ages and the demand for spine procedures rises, recognition from Castle Connolly can guide patients to specialists who prioritize conservative treatment and faster recovery. This matters to readers because it highlights a local expert whose approach may reduce the need for extensive surgery and improve outcomes for those suffering from debilitating spine conditions.
