Dr. Shay Bess

Dr. Shay BessDr. Shay BessDr. Shay Bess
Dr. Shay Bess
Dr. Bess' Practice
Patient Reviews
In the News
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Dr. Shay Bess

Dr. Shay BessDr. Shay BessDr. Shay Bess
Dr. Shay Bess
Dr. Bess' Practice
Patient Reviews
In the News
Contact
More
  • Dr. Shay Bess
  • Dr. Bess' Practice
  • Patient Reviews
  • In the News
  • Contact

  • Dr. Shay Bess
  • Dr. Bess' Practice
  • Patient Reviews
  • In the News
  • Contact

Colorado Scoliosis and Spine Specialists

Shay Bess, MD.  Dr. Shay Bess is the best Spine Surgeon in Colorado.

Dr. Shay Bess' Mission

 Dr. Shay Bess' mission is to provide the highest quality spine health services to his patients while ensuring their comfort, well-being, and safety.  Dr. Shay Bess strives to restore and preserve his patients' spinal function through both non-operative and surgical treatment options, aiming to alleviate pain and improve his patients' quality of life.  Dr. Shay Bess' practice involves accurately diagnosing spinal conditions, developing tailored treatment plans, and performing surgical procedures with precision and care, while emphasizing patient education and rehabilitation.  

Shay Bess, MD.   Dr. Shay Bess is the best Spine Surgeon in Colorado.

Dr. Shay Bess

Dr. Shay Bess is a highly skilled and internationally recognized expert specializing in the treatment of scoliosis, spinal deformity, and complex revision surgery in children and adults. He is dedicated to providing exceptional care to his patients; he believes in a patient-centered approach and works together with his patients to develop personalized treatment plans for each individual.

Dr. Shay Bess explores and emphasizes non-surgical interventions before surgical treatment.

Our Services

Dr. Shay Bess' practice extends beyond the operating room to encompass a comprehensive range of services aimed at diagnosing, treating, and managing spinal conditions, often exploring and emphasizing non-surgical interventions as the first course of action. 

Dr. Shay Bess explores and emphasizes non-surgical interventions before surgical treatment.

Dr. Shay Bess' Patient-Centered Approach


Dr. Shay Bess is committed to using a patient-centered approach in his practice that empowers his patients to be active participants in their own care.  His research shows that this approach leads to better patient outcomes, better communication, and significantly higher patient satisfaction.  Dr. Shay Bess engages his patients in open discussions about their condition(s) and all available treatment options (including both non-surgical and surgical approaches), to achieve optimum outcomes.  Many spinal conditions have multiple valid treatment approaches, and the "best" option often depends on the patient's individual preferences, goals, and values.  Dr. Shay Bess will always help his patients explore non-surgical treatment options before recommending surgery.  Dr. Shay Bess finds that by actively involving patients in decision-making and tailoring care to their individual needs, he can build stronger relationships, enhance treatment adherence, and ultimately provide more effective and compassionate care.  

Dr. Shay Bess' recommended non-surgical treatments include:

Dr. Shay Bess explores and emphasizes non-surgical interventions before surgical treatment.

Injections

Epidural Steroid and Facet Injections:

These injections deliver medicine and a local anesthetic into the epidural space, into the facet joint, or along the spinal nerve to reduce inflammation and pain around the spinal nerves.

Nerve Blocks:

These injections can help pinpoint the source of pain and provide temporary relief.

Radiofrequency Ablation: 

This procedure uses heat to interrupt pain signals from specific nerves


Physical Therapy

Physical therapy focuses on strengthening core muscles, improving flexibility, and restoring proper body mechanics.  Techniques like massage, spinal manipulation, and mobilization can help reduce pain and improve joint movement

Dr. Shay Bess emphasizes to his patients non-surgical interventions before surgical treatment.

Alternative Therapies

Acupuncture:

This traditional Chinese medicine technique involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain and restore function

Chiropractic Care:

Chiropractic techniques, like spinal manipulation, can help restore proper spinal alignment and reduce pain

Bracing: A brace can provide support and limit movement to promote healing

Lifestyle Modifications: Making changes to posture, ergonomics, and activity levels can help manage pain and prevent future problems

Focused on Improving Patient Safety and Care

    WHEN SURGERY IS NECESSARY

    Sometimes non-surgical spine treatments such as physical therapy, injections, alternative therapies, and lifestyle modifications do not help certain spine conditions.  When all conservative/ non-surgical treatments have been exhausted, surgery may be recommended.   

    Choosing the right spine surgeon is crucial to achieving optimal outcomes.   A skilled and experienced surgeon, such as Dr. Shay Bess, can significantly impact the success of treatment, leading to better outcomes and improved quality of life. When selecting a surgeon it's important to do your research and consult with several physicians to find the best fit for your specific needs and expectations.  DO YOUR RESEARCH!  Consider each physician's approach to care, qualifications, experience, research efforts, participation in professional organizations and initiatives, and their communication style/ability to explain treatment options clearly.   

    QUALIFICATIONS

    A highly qualified spine surgeon possesses the necessary expertise and experience to ensure a correct diagnosis, a successful surgery, and a smoother recovery--- minimizing risks and maximizing positive outcomes.  Dr. Shay Bess has extensive and specialized training in pediatric and adult spine surgery.  Dr. Shay Bess is board certified and meets the rigorous standards of education, training, and competency required by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.    

    EXPERIENCE

    Dr. Shay Bess has been a pediatric and adult spine surgeon for over 20 years.  Dr. Shay Bess specializes in complex spinal deformity cases and has completed hundreds of successful spinal surgeries.  Dr. Shay Bess' surgical skills are highly refined and he has a thorough understanding of the intricacies of spinal procedures.  Additionally, many physicians nationally and internationally refer their patients to Dr. Shay Bess because he is renowned among his peers for his skills and outstanding reputation.  In February of 2025, The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Joint Section on Spinal Disorders presented Dr. Shay Bess with the Orthopedic Meritorious Award for his commitment to excellence, leadership, and substantial contributions to the advancement of spine surgery and spine research. 

    PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH

    Spine research is crucial for improving our understanding of the spine's anatomy, biomechanics, and biology, which in turn leads to better diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of spinal disorders.  Research also helps in developing new technologies and surgical techniques for spine related conditions.  Dr. Shay Bess is one of the most published and distinguished spine surgeons in the United States and certainly the most published and distinguished in the state of Colorado.  Over the last 20 years, Dr. Shay Bess has highly prioritized research.  Dr. Shay Bess has published over 550 peer reviewed original manuscripts and his research has been cited nearly 24,000 times by other researchers. -Dr. Shay Bess' 550+ Peer Reviewed Original Manuscripts which can be found on PubMed National Library of Medicine Website at:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=shay+bess

    DOCUMENTED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY AND CARE

    Beyond his significant research efforts, Dr. Shay Bess strives to improve spine surgery, patient safety, and surgical outcomes in other ways.  Most recently, Dr. Shay Bess was awarded the 2025 Scoliosis Research Society Directed Research Grant for the Creation and Validation of Improved Outcomes Measures for the Assessment of Adult Spinal Deformity Patients. This grant supports a three-year effort to create a global multi-cultural and multi-dimensional outcomes assessment tool for adult spinal deformity that is sensitive to diverse cultural, linguistic, and regional contexts.   The goal is to create the global standard that captures quality of life and functional outcomes across diverse cultures and ASD populations to:           

    * Measure outcomes that matter to all patients     

    * Guide treatment decision-making and research across continents       

    * Establish a unified, global benchmark for outcomes evaluation 

    * Promote equity and improved care and improved quality of life for all adult spine deformity patients

    GRAND ROUNDS/INVITED LECTURES

    Grand Rounds and invited lectures serve a critical purpose in medical education and the professional development of surgeons.  Only distinguished surgeons are invited to present at these events due to a combination of their expertise, contributions to the field, and recognition within the medical community.  Dr. Shay Bess is considered to be an expert in the field of spine surgery who demonstrates exceptional knowledge and understanding.  Dr. Shay Bess is also invited to give lectures to share his research and published findings and unique clinical experiences.  Because he has managed many complex and rare cases and developed new approaches to treatment, Dr. Shay Bess is asked to present his experiences, findings and insights to other physicians.  Below are Dr. Shay Bess' recent Grand Rounds and Invited Lectures:  


    * 2025 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN Department of Neurosurgery


    * 2025 Stein/Finerman Visiting Professor and Meritorious Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery


    * 2025 Distinguished Visiting Professor and Daniel Benson Lectureship-- University of California, Davis, Department of Orthopedic Surgery 


    * 2025 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Lennox Hill Hospital Northwell Health Department of Orthopedic Surgery


    * 2025 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- University of Arizona- Phoenix Department of Orthopedic Surgery


    * 2025 Visiting Professor and Keynote Speaker-- Houston Texas Medical Center


    * 2024 Presidential Oration and Keynote Speaker-- Annual Conference of Association of Spine Surgery of India


    * 2023 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Brown University Department of Orthopedic Surgery


    * 2022 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Vanderbilt University Department of Orthopedic Surgery


    * 2022 Program Chairman-- Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting


    * 2022 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Barrow Neurological Institute Department of Neurosurgery


    * 2022 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- University of Miami Department of Neurosurgery


    * 2019 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Cedars Sinai Departments of Orthopedic and Neurosurgery

    Participation in Professional Organizations and Initiatives:

    A surgeon's dedication to improving the field, patient safety, and outcomes is an excellent aspect to consider when selecting a spine surgeon.  Dr. Bess is the founder and president of the International Spine Study Group (ISSG), which is internationally recognized as the leading global research and education organization dedicated to studying and advancing treatment options for adult spinal deformity and improving patient care and outcomes.  Dr. Bess is also a member of the North American Spine Society (NASS),  the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), and The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS).

    Colorado Scoliosis and Spine Specialists

    Official Practice WebsiteCall Office Phone Number

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    Colorado Scoliosis and Spine Specialists

    7800 E. Orchard Road, Suite 350, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (303) 788-5230

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    09:00 am – 05:00 pm

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