Spine Services

The Neurosurgical Spine Division at the University of Pittsburgh is a multidisciplinary organization composed of specialists in the fields of physical therapy, physical medicine and rehabilitation, interventional neuroradiology and neurological spine surgery. Specialists from these fields work together as a unified group to provide the highest quality care for patients and athletes who have spine injuries, painful disc conditions, neck, arm, back or leg pain. 

Adam S. Kanter, MD, leads the minimally invasive spine program, David O. Okonkwo, MD, PhD, leads the spinal deformity program, and Peter C. Gerszten, MD, MPH, leads the percutaneous and spine radiosurgery programs. The community division is led by Joseph Maroon, MD, and Matt El-Kadi, MD, PhD. 

The Neurosurgery Spine Services Division offers comprehensive care for all types of spinal disorders, including degenerative, traumatic, athletic and cancer conditions. The initial treatment approach is typically non-surgical, with surgical options reserved for patients/athletes with recurrent or disabling symptoms or progressive deficits. Complete diagnostic testing of all spinal and nerve disorders is available through the center. 

The spinal deformity program, led by Dr. Okonkwo, offers full-scale analysis, longitudinal tracking, and treatment interventions for patients with scoliosis and other spinal deformities. The minimally invasive program, led by Dr. Kanter, utilizes state-of-the-art neuroendoscopic techniques to minimize trauma and disruption of surrounding tissues, often enabling patients to be discharged on the same day as their operation. 

The spine radiosurgery program, led by Dr. Gerszten, is one of the most experienced centers in the world in treating a wide variety of both malignant as well as benign spine and paraspinal tumors that is highly effective, safe, and painless, and avoids the risks associated with opens surgery

Within the division is the Center for Surgical Pain Management led by John J. Moossy, MD. This program provides a variety of surgical options for the management of medically intractable pain syndromes. The range of treatment varies from neuroaugmentation (i.e. spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal opioids) to surgical decompression (with or without spinal fusion) to ablative neurosurgery.