On Friday, July 17, 2026, Eldad Hadar, M.D., professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery presented at the 36th Ed Benzel Cleveland Spine Review.
During his presentation, “Dorsal Cervical Surgery Indications and Techniques,” Hadar, who practices at the Neurosurgery Clinic at UAB Medicine St. Vincent's, discussed variable clinical approaches to cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). CSM is a condition that arises from the compression of the spinal cord due to wear-and-tear of the spine. His presentation highlighted CSM’s epidemiology, disadvantages and advantages of different surgical treatment procedures and instrumentation and complication mitigation.
Founded in 1990 by Edward Benzel, M.D., emeritus chair of neurosurgery at the Cleveland Clinic, the Ed Benzel Cleveland Spine Review is the longest-running comprehensive spine course in the world. Now in its final year, the course has educated more than 3,000 spine surgeons and specialists throughout its duration. This year’s session, titled, “Ed Benzel Cleveland Spine Review: Hands On-2026,” continued the program’s esteemed combination of cadaver laboratory work with didactic lectures and discussion.
In addition to Hadar, Department of Neurosurgery Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery Professor Brandon Rocque, M.D., attended the event as a lab faculty along with PGY-6 Neurosurgery Resident Somnath Das, M.D.