Bizhan Aarabi
Bizhan Aarabi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1947 Abadeh, Iran |
| Occupation(s) | Neurosurgeon, academician, author, researcher |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Known for | Research on traumatic brain injuries and cervical spinal cord trauma; Director of Neurotrauma at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; Professor of Neurosurgery at University of Maryland |
Bizhan Aarabi (; born 1947) is an Iranian-American neurosurgeon, academician, author, and researcher. He holds a professorship in neurosurgery at the University of Maryland and serves as the Director of Neurotrauma at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.
Aarabi's investigative focus lies in traumatic brain injuries and cervical spinal cord trauma. Between 1980 and 1990, he conducted longitudinal studies involving both military personnel and civilians affected by the Iran-Iraq war. Subsequently, he examined traumatic cervical spinal cord injury cases within the United States. He has contributed more than 180 scholarly articles to the medical literature. In 2018, he co-edited the volume Decompressive Craniectomy alongside J. Marc Simard.
In recognition of his contributions, Aarabi received the Medal of Honor and Achievement from the Iranian government in 1990.
Early life and education
Born in Abadeh, Iran in 1947, Aarabi completed his Pre-Medical studies at Pahlavi University before obtaining his medical degree there in 1973. After a neurosurgical internship at Namazi Hospital in Iran, he relocated to the United States for advanced training at Cook County Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he trained under DM Long.
Career
Aarabi returned to Iran in 1979 to assume an associate professorship in neurosurgery at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, advancing to Professor and Chair by 1990. He resumed his career in the US in 1995 as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 2000, he joined the University of Maryland as Director of Neurotrauma at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.
Research
During his tenure at Shiraz University, Aarabi investigated infectious and hemorrhagic complications resulting from missile head injuries sustained during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), culminating in his publication Beyond Coma. His work identified key predictors for central nervous system infections and traumatic intracranial aneurysms. In 1999, he co-edited the comprehensive two-volume work Missile Wounds of the Head and Neck with Howard H. Kaufman.
At the University of Nebraska, Aarabi contributed to developing AANS/CNS guidelines addressing penetrating brain injuries and later expanded this work to acute cervical spine and spinal cord trauma guidelines (2013). His recent investigations emphasize acute cervical spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury, focusing on intramedullary lesion evolution and its influence on patient outcomes following cervical SCI.
In collaboration with Michael Fehlings, Aarabi co-authored A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injury in 2017. The following year, he co-edited Decompressive Craniectomy.
Awards and honours
- 1990 - Medal of Honor and Achievement awarded by the Iranian Government
- 2018 - International Impact Award from National Spinal Cord Injury Association Iran
- 2018 - Endowed Neurotrauma Professorship Chair Award at UMSOM
Books
- An Introduction to the Treatment of Craniocerebral Battle Wounds (1987)
- Beyond Coma: Brain Death (1993)
- Missile Injuries of the Head and Neck (1999)
- Decompressive Craniectomy (2018)
Selected articles
- Aarabi B, Akhtar-Danesh N, Chryssikos T, Shanmuganathan K, et al. Effectiveness of Ultra-Early (<12 h), Early (12-24 h), and Late (>24-138.5 h) Surgical Intervention Confirmed by MRI Decompression in ASIA Impairment Scale Grades A, B, and C Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma 27:448-457, 2020
- Aarabi B, Olexa J, Chryssikos T et al. Postoperative MRI Evaluation of Spinal Cord Decompression Extent in Motor Complete (ASIA Grades A and B) Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Utilizing Standard Surgical Approaches. J Neurotrauma 36:862-876, 2019
- Aarabi B, Oner C, Vaccaro AR, Schroeder GD, Akhtar-Danesh N. Application of AOSpine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification in Both Simple and Complex Clinical Scenarios. J Orthop Trauma. 2017 Sep;31 Suppl 4:S24-S32
- Aarabi B, Sansur CA, Ibrahimi DM et al. Postoperative Intramedullary Lesion Length on MRI as a Predictor for ASIA Grade Improvement Following Decompressive Surgery in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Neurosurgery 80:610-620. 2017
- Le E, Aarabi B, Hersh DS, Shanmuganathan K, et al. MRI-Based Predictors for Intramedullary Lesion Expansion Rate in Subaxial Spinal Cord Trauma. J Neurosurg Spine. 2015
- Aarabi B, Tofighi B, Kufera JA et al. Outcome Predictors Following Civilian Gunshot Head Wounds. J Neurosurg. 2014
- Aarabi B, Mirvis S, Shanmuganathan K et al. Comparative Analysis of Surgical Versus Nonoperative Treatment for Unilateral Nondisplaced Subaxial Cervical Spine Facet Fractures Without Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurosurg Spine. 2014 Mar;20(3):270-7