Dr. Brantigan practiced orthopaedic surgery in Nebraska for almost 20 years, serving as Chief of Spinal Reconstructive Surgery at Creighton University from 1992 through 1997. In 1985, Dr. Brantigan began an extensive study of the causes of failure of spinal surgery and received the first U.S. Patent ever issued on an interbody fusion (I/F) cage for human surgery.

Dr. Brantigan collaborated with the AcroMed Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio on the commercial development of the cage. AcroMed, known as DePuy-Motech-AcroMed, is now owned by Johnson and Johnson. Clinical testing of the Brantigan I/F Cage, a device now widely used throughout the world, was recently completed and FDA approval for premarket applications with the DePuy Acromed VSP Spine System® was granted in February of 1999. Dr. Brantigan worked with STOSSA surgeons for many years as part of the clinical trials and testing for the Lumbar I/F Cage®, as it is now being marketed. Finding the relationships rewarding and the environment attractive, Dr Brantigan moved to San Antonio in 1997 to work full time with the STOSSA team.

Dr. Brantigan has taught spine surgical techniques in England, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Venezuela, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. Dr. Brantigan is a sought after lecturer on spinal surgical procedures throughout the United States. A widely sought after lecturer and presenter, Dr. Brantigan has been published in many prestigious medical publications and journals.

Dr. Brantigan's hobbies include photography and aviation. He holds Certified Flight Instructor and Airline Transport Pilot ratings. He and his wife, Carolyn, also a licensed pilot, enjoy flying their small airplane between San Antonio and their second home in Santa Fe.