Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC

Spinal Neurosurgeon @CalgarySpine 🇨🇦 | ERAS & Outcomes Researcher

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

With this transformative support from @yyc_health we can help patients recover faster after spine surgery and be able to offer ultra-minimally invasive spine surgery options to patients.

This investment will lead to better patient care and research in spine surgery!

[Calgary Spine Program @CalgarySpine]

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Yang @MichaelYangMD and Dr. Ken Tomas who will be receiving 8.2 million dollars from the Calgary Health Foundation @yyc_health to build a Calgary Endoscopic Spine Surgery Program and an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program for Spine Surgery! 🙌

[Alvin @alvie_barr]

EXCITED TO SHARE! We show that our synthetic imaging data supports transfer learning for centres without enough local data to build ML models independently

Read More: https://t.co/rYTkQMZUXi

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

Was fortunate to collaborate in this new publication🙌:

"Enhanced Recovery After Lumbar Fusion Surgery: An International Survey on Current Practice"

We surveyed spine surgeons worldwide to understand barriers to ERAS adoption in lumbar fusion surgery.

https://t.co/wvgwodlo5o

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

New Publication 🚨!

Endoscopic Spine Surgery: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Endoscopic spine surgery is expanding quickly. In this study, we map the current evidence landscape and highlights important gaps that future research should address.

https://t.co/VyGz3SHUlu

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

Excited to teach at the 2026 Spine Summit in Special Course 4: Endoscopic Spine Cadaver Lab

Demonstrating an L5/S1 interlaminar discectomy → transforaminal approach → extraforaminal TLIF, showcasing a stepwise endoscopic pathway from decompression to fusion!

#spinesurgery

[Calgary Spine Program @CalgarySpine]

We recently hosted our 18th Annual Peripheral Nerve and Spine Surgery Cadaver Course. We had residents attend from 🇲🇽, Israel, and across 🇨🇦! Thank you to all the Faculty members, fellows, and @MichaelYangMD for directing this course.

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

Terry was one of the first patient to receive endoscopic spine surgery in Calgary. It is patients like him that drive us to push the boundaries of spine care.

Watch his story. Support @yyc_health! @CalgarySpine

https://t.co/cRPKjBNn2q

[Neurocritical Care @NeurocritCareJ]

Karmur et al: Early Versus Late Initiation of Chemical Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Adult Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Link: https://t.co/xvlxgNVf5Y

@neurocritical #neurocritcare

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

Case: T11/T12 disc herniation causing severe spinal stenosis and thoracic myelopathy.

Procedure: R T11/T12 trans-SAP transforaminal endoscopic discectomy

Video: Last bite of the disc herniation and spinal cord falling into view. Beautiful 😍😍!

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

As we near the end of 2025, I had the opportunity to reflect on key innovations in spine surgery in the Canadian context with @VuMedi .

Endoscopic techniques, ERAS pathways, and value-based care are reshaping how we deliver spine care across Canada.

👀➡️https://t.co/xVXKk4k4Bw

[Calgary Spine Program @CalgarySpine]

We hosted the Calgary Spine Program Holiday Party this past weekend. It was a great opportunity to celebrate our successes this past year. We are so grateful to work with such amazing people.

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

@DrNirLipsman @UofTNeuroSurge Congrats Nir. Excited to see where you take UofT neurosurgery next!

[Nicholas Sader, MD MSc FRCSC FAANS @NicholasSader]

Thank you @koconews and @KylieKOCO for highlighting the urgent need for ATV and UTV safety during National Injury Prevention Week. Oklahoma leads the nation in deaths among children under 16 on these vehicles. A DOT-approved helmet, proper protective gear, age-appropriate vehicles, and safety education can save lives and prevent life-changing injuries in Oklahoma.
@Okla_Childrens @OUHealth
@OUCollegeofMed @OU_Neurosurgery

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

New Publication 🚨

Early Versus Late Initiation of Chemical Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Adult Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Congrats to @BrijKarmur @JennaMann for leading this study!

https://t.co/fdIY0Q4MEn

[Alvin @alvie_barr]

Super excited to share! We generated synthetic cervical spine radiographs which were indistinguishable from real patient scans when reviewed by neuroradiologists & neurosurgeons. We also publish a dataset of >20k synthetic scans

Check out the preprint: https://t.co/CTZAIeZ2wD

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

Live @NSGYPodcast recording 🎙️🎙️ongoing at the University of Miami Spine Fellowship Reunion with Dr. Barth Green discussing the genesis of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis . @UMneurosurgery

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

The 2nd Annual University of Miami Spine Fellowship Reunion is underway! Pleasure to have had organized this with @jwyoonspine @Mhuang1986 Dr. Monterey!

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

Honored to present at #SMISS2025:

“Starting an Endoscopic Spine Surgery Program: A 10-Million Dollar Proposal.”

Shared the vision behind Calgary’s CESSRA Program-securing major funding, building a sustainable program, & the challenges of bringing endoscopic spine surgery to 🇨🇦

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

Case shared with consent from patient.

[Michael Yang, MD MSc FRCSC @MichaelYangMD]

Last week we performed Canada’s first endoscopic-TLIF using the OptiMesh expandable cage 🇨🇦 🙌.

This is a milestone I have been dreaming about for 3 years! Canadians now have access to ultra-minimally invasive methods for spinal fusion!

@DCNSNeuro @CalgarySpine @yyc_health

[Calgary Spine Program @CalgarySpine]

Kicking off the academic year with a social gathering with our trainees, nurses, and Faculty. We welcomed Dr. Jeremie Larouche to the Calgary family and wished Dr. Brad Jacobs all the best in Vancouver.