Peter B. Derman, MD

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Peter B. Derman, MD

Timely, high-quality, minimally invasive, compassionate spine care.

03/11/2026

Why trade Dallas sun for Fargo winter? 🥶

I spent two days in chilly North Dakota this week expanding access to endoscopic spine surgery. This technology is a game-changer, allowing surgeons to treat spinal issues through incisions no larger than a dime.

Adopting this ultra-minimally invasive technique requires deliberate training, which is why I’m committed to supporting my colleagues every step of the way. From leading a hands-on cadaveric lab on Sunday to proctoring one of the surgeons through his first live cases on Tuesday, it was rewarding to see these competencies take root in a new community. 🚀

By investing in the education of surgeons nationwide, we ensure that more patients reap the rewards of this advanced technique.

SURGEONS: Interested in adding endoscopy to your toolkit? Labs, observations, proctoring… I’m happy to help. 👊

PATIENTS: Don’t have an experienced endoscopic surgeon in your area? You could have surgery in Dallas and fly home the very next day! ✈️

Fun fact: Fargo, ND, was originally named Centralia before it was renamed after the founder of Wells Fargo.

03/04/2026

𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. ✨

The “domino effect” of spinal fusions is a real concern. That’s why I prefer endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy for alleviating pinched nerves in the neck without the need for fusion or implanted hardware.

If you’re dealing with neck pain with numbness, tingling, pain, and even weakness radiating into your arm, this ultra-minimally invasive technique is often a great way to get back to full activity — fast!

🌎 Patients travel from across the world for this advanced procedure… and then fly home the next day. Want to know if you’re a candidate?

𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!👇

02/25/2026

😱 𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗥𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸? Read this first. ⬇️

If you see words like “degenerative,” “herniation,” or “severe,” it’s easy to spiral. But here is the truth: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗥𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻.

The data is eye-opening. In people with 𝗭𝗘𝗥𝗢 back pain:

• 64-80% have “abnormal” findings on their lumbar MRI

• Only 36% have completely normal discs

• By age 80, 96% show disc degeneration and 84% have bulging

• Even in healthy 18-22 year olds, 77% have MRI findings

If we treated everything on MRIs, we’d be operating on people who weren’t even hurting!

I don’t treat MRIs; I treat humans. By combining your imaging with a physical exam and your actual symptoms, we find the real culprit — not just the scariest-looking word on a page.

📊 MRIs are helpful. But context is key.

02/18/2026

𝗔𝗻 𝗢𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀. ⛷️🤸‍♂️

Whether it’s a giant slalom or an endoscopic spine surgery, peak performance starts in the mind. I’ve been using visualization since my days as a Stanford gymnast, and it remains an important tool for my operating room today.

Big thanks to my sons, Noah (8) and Eli (5), for helping me explain the science behind this “pre-game” routine! 🎙️👦👦

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹? 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀! 👇

02/11/2026

🤪 Well, this is different!

Watching “spinal energetics” is certainly entertaining, but I’ll continue providing treatments that are rooted in science. Because your spine deserves more than a “vibe” check.

02/04/2026

Moments like these are exactly why I chose this profession. 😊

There is no greater reward than seeing a patient experience instant relief after surgery — often before they even leave the surgical center. Knowing I can play a part in helping someone reclaim their quality of life so quickly is what keeps me going as a spine surgeon.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁?

Endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy and discectomy is my “go to” option for disc herniations in the neck that are located off to the side and pinching the nerves as they exit the spine. In this ultra-minimally invasive procedure, a narrow camera is inserted through a dime-sized incision in the back of the neck and micro-instruments used to clean out bone spurs and/or disc herniations pressing on the nerves.

However, this patient’s more central disc herniation was pushing on his spinal cord too and could therefore not be safely accessed from the back of the neck. While anterior cervical discectomy and fusions (ACDFs) were traditionally employed in these situations, cervical disc replacement is a great motion-preserving option for patients like this.

Ultimately, the goal is always to choose the best treatment for each individual patient. By tailoring care, we can minimize surgery and maximize recovery.

So happy that this patient is already well on his way! 🙌

01/27/2026

⚡️Still buzzing from the energy at Arthrex Spine Evolutions!

It was an honor to kick off the didactic sessions at the biggest endoscopic meeting in the Western Hemisphere last weekend. Addressing a room of 500 attendees from across the globe, we explored how endoscopic techniques are poised to fundamentally redefine our field.

Beyond the lecture hall, the excitement in the hands-on labs and small group sessions was palpable. There is an explosion of interest in ultra-minimally invasive solutions, and I’m proud to help lead the charge in training the next generation of endoscopic surgeons.

The movement is growing, the technology is evolving, and the big winners are ultimately our patients.

01/20/2026

🏔️ 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽. 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀. ⛷️

I participated in the Spine Base to Summit conference in Vail this year, speaking on topics including endoscopic spine surgery and subspecialty collaboration in spine care. I even made a cameo in one of Dr. Luis Tumialán’s talks. 😂 The quality of the lectures, dialogue, and networking over the course of the meeting were top notch.

While there were many examples of cutting edge surgical techniques, I was perhaps most impressed by the skiing and snowboarding prowess of these world famous spine surgeons. Despite suboptimal snowpack, we made the most of our proximity to the mountain and got in plenty of runs.

Looking forward to returning next year for more spine talk… on and off the slopes! 🎿

01/14/2026

A miracle cure for disc degeneration?? 🪄

In this video, I dig into a viral social media post to separate fact from fiction in the quest to reverse spinal aging.

🧠 Stay informed. Stay skeptical. Follow for evidence-based spine insights. And comment below if there are other spine health stories you’d like me to investigate. 🔎

01/07/2026

𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁!

“I am 57 years old, and after years of teaching several group fitness classes a day, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis or bulging disks in my neck from overuse. The pain would flare up, and I would get on steroids or other anti-inflammatory meds and lay off of working out for a few days and the pain would usually dissipate to some degree. This went on for years.

Then in 2024, the pain got so severe I was put in contact with Dr. Derman, and he recommended having an epidural. The epidural gave me a year’s worth of relief, but the pain came back with a vengeance early August of 2025. I was leaving for a hiking trip in Colorado and hoping the anti-inflammatories would get me through the month-long trip, but nothing seemed to help. I ended up having to leave the trip early and come home for another epidural.

However, this time the epidural did not provide any relief, and Dr. Derman explained we were out of non-surgical options. He performed a disk replacement on my C5-6 disc on 10/30/25. I was extremely nervous about the procedure, but Dr. Derman took the time to talk to my husband and me for almost an hour going over what to expect. He put my mind at ease and made me feel comfortable with my decision to have a disc replacement instead of a fusion surgery (which the other 2 neurosurgeons I met with had recommended).

My surgery was so easy and my recovery has been amazing. The pain was gone instantly, and I was out walking for an hour in my neighborhood 2 days post surgery. I am back to working out daily and have already booked another hiking trip in Colorado in a few months. Dr. Derman is such an amazing spine doctor. He took the time to make me feel at ease. He treated me like I was important and not just another patient. Thank you so much Dr. Derman for relieving my pain and getting me back to my normal active life!”

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🥂 I’m briefly trading my surgical scrubs for swim trunks and taking a much-needed breather.

I plan on enjoying every second of this “peace and quiet”... because I know exactly what’s coming. We now have exactly 365 days until those insurance deductibles reset again!

The Surgeon’s Cycle:
• January – March: Slow season. Relax while we can.
• April – September: Steady pace.
• October – December: Buckle up for the “Deductible Dash.” 🏃💨

To my patients: If you want to beat the chaotic Q4 rush when everyone suddenly remembers they have a spine and wants “free” surgery, let’s chat well before then.

I’m resting up now to be ready for your 2026 goals. Let’s make it a great one! ✨

12/23/2025

My 2025 World Tour is complete! 🌍

It was a year of lectures, labs, and conferences…sharing my passion for endoscopic techniques with surgeons far and wide. Between engagements, I logged enough hours of airport delays to last a lifetime — and this isn’t even my day job! But it was also a year chock full of fun family travel and the rare (and coveted) free weekend at home.

I’m looking forward to a busy 2026. See you on the road! ✈️

Address

Dallas, TX

Website

https://texasback.com/find-a-physician/name/peter-derman/#biography

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Less is More

“In spine surgery, less is generally more. I tailor my approach to each patient’s symptoms and goals, using the least invasive means to achieve the fastest and most reliable recovery possible.”

Dr. Peter Derman, a minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgeon at the Texas Back Institute, graduated with honors from Stanford University, where he majored in Biological Sciences. He received his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and concurrently obtained a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business. Dr. Derman completed his residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and underwent further fellowship training in spine surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Beyond helping patients, Dr. Derman conducts medical research to better medicine for future generations. He enjoys spending his personal time with his wife and son, staying fit, sailing, and brewing craft beer.

Call 972-608-5000 to make an appointment. More information is available at https://texasback.com/find-a-physician/name/peter-derman/.