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Juanita Garces, M.D. Neurosurgeon

Dr. Juanita Garces completed her medicine with distinction from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. She then pursued neurosurgery training at Tulane/Oschner Medical Center in New Orleans, followed by a fellowship focused on complex spine and adult scoliosis at the University of Virginia (UVA) with the top national and international neurosurgeon/orthopedic surgeon Dr. Christopher Shaffrey. She also worked with Dr. Justin Smith and Dr. Chun-Po Yen during her fellowship.

Dr. Garces specializes in minimally invasive spine surgeries including disk arthroplasty. She has specialty training in complex spine surgery including adult degenerative scoliosis and revision spine surgeries.

Dr. Juanita Garces has been recognized by North American Spine Society in the "Top 20 under 40" list of the top spine surgeons in the country for 2023.

The SpineLine Committee selects the most deserving individuals based on accomplishments to date, community service and philosophy of care.

20under40

www.spineline-digital.org/spineline/library/page/september_october_2023/26/

www.spineline-digital.org/spineline/library/page/september_october_2023/29/

Professional

  • 2018 – present

    Attending Neurosurgeon San Antonio, TX

    St. Mary’s Medical Center

  • 2017 – 2018

    University of Virginia Neurosurgery Dept Charlottesville, VA

    Complex Spine Fellow

    Dr. Christopher Shaffrey

    Dr. Justin Smith

  • 2016 – 2017

    Tulane Medical Center/Ochsner Medical Center New Orleans, LA

    Neurosurgery Chief Resident

  • 2011 – 2016

    Tulane Medical Center/Ochsner Medical Center New Orleans, LA

    Neurosurgery Resident

Education

Graduate Level

  • 2007 – 2011

    University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX

    Doctor of Medicine with Distinction in Research

Undergraduate Level

  • 2002 – 2006

    University of Texas at Austin

    Bachelor of Science

    • Major: Neurobiology

    Bachelor of Arts

    • Major: Spanish, Hispanic Studies
    • Major: Latin American Studies

Journal Publications

  • Nguyen JH., Buell TJ., Wang, TR., Mullin, JP., Mazur MD., Garces, J., Taylor, DG., Yen, CP., Shaffrey, CI., Smith, JS. Low Rates of Complications after Spinopelvic Fixation with Iliac Screws in 260 Adult Patients with a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up. Journal of Neurosurgery Spine, 2019 Feb 1:1-9. DOI: 10.3171/2018.9.SPINE18239. PMID: 30717036
  • Buell, TJ., Buchholz, AL., Quinn, JC., Mullin, JP., Garces, J., Mazur, MD., Shaffrey, ME., Yen, CP., Shaffrey, CI., Smith, JS. Extended Asymmetrical Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy for Adult Spinal Deformity: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Operative Neurosurgery (Hagerstown). 2019 Feb 1;16(2):52-53. Doi 10.1093/ons/opy160 PMID: 29920605
  • Buell TJ., Mullin, JP., Nguyen, JH., Taylor, DG., Garces, J., Mazur, MD., Buchholz, AL., Shaffrey, ME., Yen, CP., Shaffrey, CI., Smith, JS. A Novel Junctional Tether Weave Technique for Adult Spinal Deformity: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Operative Neurosurgery (Hagerstown). 2019 Feb 1;16(2):45-46 doi:10.1093/ons/opy148. PMID: 29873786
  • Martin, J., Garces, J., Bui, CJ., Longo, S. Surgical Management of Spinal Epidural Abscess in a Term Pregnancy: Delivery Versus Decompression. A Case Report. Journal of Reproductive Medicine. Volume 63. Number 11-12/November-December 2018
  • Buell, TJ., Nguyen, JH., Mazur, MD., Mullin, JP., Garces, J., Taylor, DG., Yen, CP., Shaffrey, ME., Shaffrey, CI., Smith, JS. Radiographic outcome and complications after single-level lumbar extended pedicle subtraction osteotomy for fixed sagittal malalignment: a retrospective analysis of 55 adult spinal deformity patients with a minimum 2-year follow up. Journal of Neurosurgery Spine. 2018 Nov 1:1-11 doi: 10.3171/2018.7.SPINE171367PMID: 30497176
  • Hanna, JA., Scullen, T., Kahn, L., Mathkour MH., Gouveia, E., Garces, J., Evans, LM., Lea, G., Houghton, DJ., Biro, E., Bui, CJ., Sulaiman, WAR., Smith, RD. Comparison of Elderly and Young Patient Populations Treated with Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease: Long-term Outcomes with up to 7 Years of Follow up. Journal of Neurosurgery, 2018 September: DOI: 10.3171/2018.4 JNS171909 PMID: 30265192
  • Garces, J., Mathkour, M., Scullen, T., Kahn, L., Biro, E., Pham, A., Sulaiman OAR., Smith, RD., Bui, CJ., First Case of Autonomic Dysreflexia Following Elective Lower Thoracic Spinal Cord Transection in a Spina Bifida Adult. World Neurosurg. 2017 Dec;108:988.e1-988.e5 doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2017.07.147. Epub 2017 Aug 3 PMID: 28782691
  • Mathkour, M., Garces, J., Scullen, T., Valle-Giler, E., Halat, S., Arrington, T., Ware, M. Spindle cell oncocytoma of the pituitary gland. Journal of Neurosurgery Sci. 2017 Oct;61(5):554-557. Doi: 10.23736/S0390-5616.16.03433-0 PMID: 28737368
  • Sulaiman, WAR., Garces, J., Mathkour, M., Scullen, T., Jones, RB., Arrington, T., Bui, CJ. Mini -Open Thoracolumbar Corpectomy: Perioperative Outcomes and Hospital Cost Analysis Compared to Open Corpectomy. World Neurosurgery, 2017 Mar;99:295-301 doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2016.11.075. Epub 2016 Nov 25. PMID: 27890745
  • Mathkour, M, Garces, J., Scullen, T., Hanna, J., Valle -Giler, E., Kahn, L., Arrington, T., Houghton, D., Lea, G., Biro, E., Bui, CJ., Sulaiman, OAR., Smith, RD. Short and Long-Term Outcomes of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson Disease Patients 70 years and Older, World Neurosurg, 2016 June 10. pii: S1878-8750(16)30373-4. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.06.001. [Epub ahead of print] PMID:27297246
  • Garces, J., Mathkour, M., Beard, B., Sulaiman, OAR., Ware, ML. Insular and Sylvian Fissure Dermoid Cyst with Giant Cell Reactivity: A Case Report and Review of the Literature, World Neurosurg, 2016 May 26. pii: S1878-8750(16)30311-4. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.05.037. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 2723742
  • Mathkour, M., Garces, J., Beard, B., Sulaiman, OAR, Ware, M. High- grad Osteosarcoma of the Clivus: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature. World Neurosurg. 2016 Jan 30. Pii: S1878-8750(16)00142-X. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.01.054. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 26836700
  • Garces, J., Mathkour, M., Valle-Giler, E., Scullen, T., Berry, JF., Smith, R. Primary Intraventricular Leiomyoma in an Immunocompetent Patient: First Case Report and Review of the Literature, World Neurosurg. 2016 Feb 5. Pii: S1878-8750(16)00176-5. Doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.01.088. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 26855311
  • Strong, M., Garces, J., Tang W., Ware, M.; Benign Sacral Metastatic Meningioma: A Rare Entity; The Ochsner Journal Summer; 15(2):200-2. PMID: 26130988
  • Sandow T., Milburn J., Garces J., Valle EP., and Bui CJ., (2015) Clinical Images – A Quarterly Column: Rare Neonatal Look at Chiari II Thoracic Myelomeningocele. The Ochsner Journal: Spring 2015, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 8-10. PMID: 25829873
  • Garces, J., Berry, JF., Valle –Giler, EP., Sulaiman, WAR.; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring for Minimally Invasive 1- and 2- Level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Does it Improve Patient Outcome? The Ochsner Journal 14:57-61, 2014. PMID: 24688334
  • Valle-Giler, EP., Garces, J., Smith, RD., Sulaiman, WAR.; One-Stage Resection of Giant Invasive Thoracic Schwannoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature The Ochsner Journal 14:135-140, 2014. PMID:24688347
  • Kahn, LW., Mbabuike, N., Valle-Giler EP., Garces, J., Moore, RC., St.Hilaire, H., Bui, CJ.; Fetal Surgery: The Ochsner Experience with In Utero Spina Bifida Repair The Ochsner Journal 14:112-118, 2014. PMID:24688343
  • Marquez de la Plata, C., Garces, J., Shokri, KE., Grinnan J., Krishnan, K., Pidikiti, R., Spence, J., Devous, MD Sr., Moore, C., McColl, R., Madden, C., Diaz-Arrastia, R.; Deficits in Functional Connectivity of Hippocampal and Frontal Lobe Circuits after Traumatic Axonal Injury. Archives of Neurology, Jan; 68(1):74-84, 2011 PMID: 21220676
  • Berlanga, ML., Lim, HY, Floyd, CE., Garces, J, Mendenhall, JM., Lyons, CL., Alantara, AA.; Cocaine-and Morphine Induced Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens. Synapse Apr; 65(4):309-20, 2011. PMID: 20730804

Book Chapters

  • Garces,J., Mathkour, M., Skovgard, M., Kaufmann, A., and Sulaiman, O AR (March 2016) Erb’s Palsy/Brachial Plexus Injury. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: Chichester. DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0025818
  • Garces, J., Mathkour, M., Scullen, T., Biro, E., Sulaiman, WAR., Bui, CJ. Chiari Malformations Type I: Overview, Current Trends of Treatment, and Our Experience. In: Leon V. Berhardt (ed) Advances in Medicine and Biology. Chapter: 3, Volume 99. Nova Science Publisher
  • Strong, MJ., Garces, J., Vera JC, Mathkour, M., Emerson, N., Ware, ML. Brain Tumors: Epidemiology and Current Trends in Treatment. J Brain Tumors Neurooncol 2015, 1:1000102. Doi: 10.4172/jbtn.1000102
  • Mathkour, M., Garces, J., Arrington, T., Sulaiman, OAR, 2010-2014 Ochsner Outcomes Neuroscience Institute, (November 2014- March 2015), Ochsner Book Publication;

Oral Presentations

  • Garces,J., Mathkour, M., Arrington, T., Sulaiman, WAR.; Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Treated with Lateral Interbody Fusion versus Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Comparative Study of Two MIS Techniques, oral presentation, Spine across the Sea of North American Spine Society (NASS) July 26-30, 2015 in Kohala Coast, Hawaii, USA.
  • Garces, J., Jones, RB., Arrington, T., Bui, CJ., Sulaiman, WAR.; Mini -Open Thoracolumbar Corpectomy – Functional Outcome and Cost-Utility Analysis Compared to Open Corpectomy, NASS Spine Across the Sea Conference July 2015, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, USA
  • Garces, J., Mathkour, M., Arrington, T., Sulaiman, WAR.; Comparative Study of Two Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques for Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: An Ochsner Experience, NASS Spine Across the Sea Conference July 2015, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, USA
  • Garces, J., Jones, RB., Arrington, T., Bui, CJ., Sulaiman, WAR.; Mini-Open Thoracolumbar Corpectomy – Functional Outcome and Cost- Utility Analysis Compared to Open Corpectomy, The 40th Annual LANS Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 16-17, 2015
  • Garces, J., Mathkour, M., Arrington, T., Sulaiman, WAR.; Minimally Invasive Lumbar Laminectomy is a More Cost Effective Treatment for Degenerative Spinal Stenosis Compared to Open Laminectomy: An Ochsner Experience, The 40th Annual LANS Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 16-17, 2015
  • Garces, J., Mathkour, M., Arrington, T., Sulaiman, WAR.; Comparative Study of Two Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques for Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: An Ochsner Experience, The 40th Annual LANS Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 16-17, 2015
  • Valle-Giler, E., Garces, J., Jones, RB., Arrington, T., Sulaiman, WAR.; Outcomes of Lumbar Spinal Surgery in Patients Older than 65 Years Old – Does Minimally Invasive Surgery make a Difference? The 40th Annual LANS Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 16-17, 2015
  • Riffle, J., Valle-Giler, E., Garces, J., Bui, CJ., Surgical Treatment of Chiari I Malformations: Advantage of Linear Autologous Duraplasty, The 40th Annual LANS Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 16-17, 2015
  • Garces, J., Valle-Giler, EP., Kahn, LW., Cuong, CJ., Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida in Louisiana – A Year Later, The 39th annual LANS Conference January, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2014
  • Garces, J, Grinnan, J, Marquez de la Plata, C, Diaz-Arrastia, R; Resting State Functional MRI in Traumatic Brain Injury Reveals Deficits in Connectivity of Limbic and Frontal Circuits – Top 10 selected for presentation. UTSW Research Forum, January 2009

National Organizations

  • American Academy of Neurological Surgery (AANS)
  • National Neurotrauma Society (NNS)
  • Women in Neurotrauma Research (WINTR)
  • College of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
  • North American Spine Society (NASS)

Awards/Accomplishments

  • January 2015 - John Jackson Research Award, best clinical research project; LANS Annual Meeting
  • July 2014 - Cleveland Clinic Spine Review; James Dean Bad Ass Award
  • January 2014 - Nominated at Ochsner Medical Center for Resident of the Year
  • June 2012 - Nominated at Louisiana Interim University Hospital for Intern of the Year
  • January 2009 - UTSW Research Forum Selected Oral Presenter and General Poster Presentation
  • April 2008 - Integrated Neuroscience AAN Poster Presentation Honorary Selection
  • April 2008 - sanofi-aventis Minority Scholars Program Scholarship Recipient, American Academy of Neurology
  • January 2008 - UTSW Research Forum Poster Presentation
  • 2004-2005 - National Dean’s List 2004-2005
    University of Texas at Austin
  • 2004-2005 - University Honors 2004-2005
    University of Texas at Austin
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