MSH-North-Spine

Trust us to provide the care you need.

From acute back pain to chronic spine conditions, our orthopedic surgeons--nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report--and our world-renowned neurosurgeons at MedStar Health deliver unparalleled treatment expertise and the highest quality of patient care. Our board-certified spine specialists can evaluate your pain at 12 convenient locations spanning Central Maryland:

Enjoy more pain-free days with expert spine care.

Back pain is a leading cause of chronic pain, missed work, and disability in the U.S. If neck or back pain interferes with your daily life, do your spine a favor—visit a specialist to help relieve your symptoms.

Our expert specialists - both orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons - work as a team to ensure the best outcome for you.Learn more by listening to our podcast.

How a Spine Specialist Can Help
MedStar Health experts diagnose and treat the full range of spine conditions. We offer minimally invasive, and standard treatments for adults and teens with common and rare diseases that affect the spine, such as:

Adolescent Scoliosis

Degenerative disc disease

Herniated discs

Scoliosis

Sciatica

Stenosis

Spondylolisthesis

Spinal tumors

Spinal fractures

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

With advanced imaging—and insights about your symptoms and goals—we can pinpoint the cause of your spine pain and recommend a treatment plan to help you enjoy more pain-free days.

Spinal Tumors

At MedStar Health, our spine specialists are experts in treating primary spine tumors—noncancerous tumors that first develop on your spine or spinal cord. These benign tumors are formed by an abnormal growth or mass of cells and are uncommon, accounting for just 0.5% of all newly diagnosed tumors.

Spinal tumors can occur anywhere in and along your spinal column, which includes your vertebrae, spinal cord, and surrounding tissues. Many are undetectable while others may present as a lump or lesion on the neck or back.

Some spinal tumors cause no symptoms because they’re so small they do not press on or irritate nearby tissues. However, as a tumor grows, it can cause certain symptoms by compressing the spinal cord, nerve roots, and nearby blood vessels. Depending on the tumor’s size and location, it may cause back or neck pain, weakness, numbness, and may affect bladder or bowel control.

Because there are several types of primary spinal tumors, they can be complex to treat. The treatment plan for spine tumors is determined on a case-by-case basis by a team of spine specialists that includes fellowship-trained specialists in neurosurgery, neurology, radiology, neuro-oncologists and others.

For symptomatic tumors, surgery is often recommended. Our neurosurgeons are skilled in minimally invasive and traditional techniques as well as in using leading-edge robotic and image-guided technologies.

Primary spinal tumors we treat include:

Aneurysmal bone cyst, a blood-filled lesion in the bone that tends to expand or grow. While it is referred to as a cyst, it is surrounded by a thin wall of bone. It is most commonly found around the spine, pelvis, or knee.

Hemangiomas, the most common primary tumor of the spine. These lesions are of vascular origin and usually involve a proliferation of normal capillary and venous structures. They are usually seen in the mid-back (thoracic) and lower back (lumbar).

Meningioma, which begins in the thin membranes that cover the spinal cord. It usually appears in the upper portion of the back and is most common in women.

Nerve sheath tumors such as schwannomas and neurofibromas, which form on peripheral nerve roots exiting the spine.

Neurofibroma, a tumor that arises in the protective covering of the spinal cord and nerves. It often occurs in people with neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes nerve tumors throughout the central nervous system and skin.

Osteoma, a small, bonelike tumor that can grow on the spine (among other areas) that is common in children and younger adults.

Osteoblastoma, a bonelike tumor similar to an osteoma that is typically larger and more aggressive.

Osteochondroma, an overgrowth of cartilage and bone that develops during childhood or adolescence. It is an abnormal growth that forms on the surface of a bone near the growth plate.

Schwannoma, composed of Schwann cells, which produce the material that insulates nerves. It is usually located on the outside of the spinal cord.

For more information or to make an appointment click here or call one of our specialists, at 667-328-2134.

Additional Resources Below:

Facebook Live: Spinal Tumors

Doc Talk:

S3:E5 Transforming the treatment of brain and spine tumors

Though rare, there are more than 100 different types of brain and spine tumors, making them complex to diagnose and treat. Because of this, a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment that brings together specialists that include neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, neuro-oncologists, and other experts is essential for the best outcomes. During this podcast, Dr. Teresa Wojtasiewicz, a neurosurgeon; medical oncologist Dr. Mahsa Mohebtash; and radiation oncologist Kelly Orwat; all with the Neuro-Oncology program at MedStar Health discuss the different types of brain and spine tumors as well as advances in treatment.

For interviews with any of these specialists, or for more information about this podcast, contact Regional Media Relations Director, debra.schindler@medstar.net.
Treatment Options
Most patients find relief from spine pain without surgery. Our experts will discuss all your treatment options—we will personalize your care plan based on your lifestyle, needs, and goals. For maximum pain management, we may recommend a combination of conservative treatments, such as:

Injections and nerve blocks

Physical therapy

Radiofrequency ablation for nerve pain

MedStar Health spine surgeons are experts in minimally invasive and traditional techniques. If you need surgery, we will help you understand what to expect before, during, and after your procedure. Using leading-edge robotic and image-guided technologies, we offer the full range of spine surgeries, including:

Cervical disc replacement.Click here to learn more

Discectomy

Intradiscal electrothermal therapy

Kyphoplasty

Laminectomy

Vertebroplasty

Spinal fusion

Spinal deformity surgery
Innovative Technology, More Precise Surgery
High-tech surgical robots and image-guided systems don’t replace surgical expertise, but it does help us give you the most precise outcomes. Using the latest technology, our spine surgeons get a better view of your spine, nerves, and musculature—allowing us to maneuver instruments with more accuracy than ever before.

Robotic-assisted spine surgery generally requires smaller incisions. In our expert surgeons’ hands, we can avoid disturbing healthy tissues around the spine as we correct what’s causing your symptoms. The results?

Shorter hospital stay

Faster recovery

Lower risk of complications

Intradiscal electrothermal therapy

Facebook Live: Robotic Joint and Spine Surgery

To learn more about robotics, watch the video above.

Our center was among the first in the U.S. to implement the Excelsius3D™ spinal surgery system, which features real-time 3D video technology for surgical pre-mapping. Our specialists also use the precise Airo and ExcelsiusGPS systems for delicate maneuvers, such as robotic navigation and implant placement. Together, these innovations deliver unparalleled precision during surgery.

Looking for relief from spine pain?

Watch our recent Facebook Live featuring neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Iguchi.

Are you at risk for spine problems?

A close up photo of a doctor placing hands on a patient's back during an examination.

Just seven minutes could put your mind at ease. Take our short quiz to assess your neck back or back pain.

Take Our Spine Risk Assessment

For more information call

410-248-8336,

or

Request an Appointment

Hear from our patients.

Matt Sandford is back in the gym after complex spine surgery
When a spine doctor becomes a spine patient

US News Best Hospitals - Orthopedics - 2023-24

Meet our spine experts.

MedStar Health is home to one of Maryland’s largest fellowship-trained spine teams. We are on the leading-edge of research, educating future spine doctors in the latest data-driven techniques. Our spine experts work closely with specialists throughout MedStar Health—so every patient gets an exceptionally personalized, team-based treatment plan.