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?

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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.

Paul Asdourian, MD

Zeena Dorai, MD

Victor Du, MD

Mark Iguchi, MD

Mesfin A. Lemma, MD

Paul McAfee, MD, MBA

Bradley Moatz, MD

Zan Naseer, MD

Charles Schnee, MD

Jugal Shah, MD

Teresa Wojtasiewicz, MD

Spine experts

Paul Asdourian, MD

Paul Asdourian, MD

Dr. Asdourian, Regional Director, Spine Program at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, is a spine surgeon trained in reconstructive spinal surgery. His expertise is in the treatment of adult spinal deformity, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative disc disease. For more than 27 years, Dr. Asdourian has utilized state-of-the-art techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of failed cervical and lumbar decompressions and fusions. Dr. Asdourian was a key investigator in cervical artificial disc replacements. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society.

Zeena Dorai, MD

Zeena Dorai, MD

Dr. Dorai is the Chief of Neurosurgery, MedStar Good Samaritan and MedStar Union Memorial Hospitals; Director, Neurosciences, MedStar Health, Central Maryland Region; and an Associate Professor, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She is board certified in neurological surgery and completed a board-certified fellowship in brain and spinal tumors. Her special clinical interests include degenerative spine disease, brain tumors, cranial trauma, hydrocephalus, and radiosurgery.

Dr. Dorai has authored articles and chapters in spine reconstruction, brain tumors and cerebrovascular surgery. She has given numerous local and national presentations and served as faculty for surgical courses at national neurosurgical meetings. Dr. Dorai is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Dr. Dorai was named a 2018 “Top Doc” by Baltimore Magazine for Neurosurgery and also recognized in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Victor Du, MD

Victor Du, MD

Victor Du, MD, practices at The Center of Neurosurgery at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. Dr. Du specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the brain and spine, with a particular focus on spinal surgery emphasizing evidence-based biomechanical principles and patient selection. He deploys diverse techniques such as minimally invasive surgery and complex spinal instrumentation in order to optimize treatments for the entire breadth of spinal disorders, including arthritic degeneration, deformity, trauma, and cancer. In addition he treats cranial pathologies including benign and malignant brain tumors, Chiari malformation,craniocervical instability, and hematomas.

Dr. Du earned his medical degree at Albany Medical College, and completed his residency in neurological surgery at the Northwell Health system in Long Island, NY. Dr. Du also completed a complex spine surgery fellowship at the Northwell Health system, where he developed special interests in the treatment of spinal deformity, spinal oncology, and tethered cord syndrome.

He has published on topics in cranial and spinal surgery, contributing articles and abstracts to a number of professional journals and conferences.

Mark Iguchi, MD

Mark Iguchi, MD

Mark Iguchi, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon with nearly 20 years of clinical neurosurgical experience here in the Baltimore area. At MedStar Health, he offers a full range of consultative and surgical services for general neurosurgery. Dr. Iguchi enjoys general neurosurgery and specializes in spine surgery, performing both traditional open spinal surgery along with minimally invasive and microsurgical operative approaches. Dr. Iguchi specializes treatment for spinal disorders associated with herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, prior surgeries, instability, spinal cord compression, spinal stenosis and nerve compression. He sees patients in Pikesville, Timonium, and at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center.

Dr. Iguchi earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin, after attending college in California and an initial career in Finance. Dr Iguchi trained in Neurological Surgery at the University of Maryland / Shock Trauma Center. Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Iguchi was a neurosurgeon at Greater Baltimore Medical Center and served as a clinical Instructor for the University of Maryland Neurosurgery Department.

Dr. Iguchi was recently voted as a “Top Doctor” by Baltimore Magazine. He is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Mesfin A. Lemma, MD

Mesfin A. Lemma, MD

Dr. Lemma is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon, specializing in the surgical treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders. He sees patients in Bel Air, Rosedale / White Marsh, and in Baltimore at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He currently serves as division chief of spine surgery as well as director of minimally invasive spine surgery at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.

Pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery seemed a natural fit to Dr. Lemma's background as a mechanical engineer. After completing his residency and fellowship training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, he served as division chief of Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital, prior to transitioning to MedStar Orthopaedic Institute in 2014.

Dr. Lemma's areas of intellectual interest and clinical expertise center around minimally invasive spine surgery. Using tubular retractors in lieu of traditional open surgery, state-of-the-art technologies, and computer-assisted navigation allows Dr. Lemma to deliver to his patients the best solutions with the least amount of invasion. A large portion of his practice also focuses on spinal problems in the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis of the spine, spinal deformity, and revision spinal surgery.

Dr. Lemma remains active in resident and surgeon education, and was honored to be the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award from the Johns Hopkins University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2014. He has also been involved in developing innovative spine surgical techniques and new technologies and relates his experiences to other surgeons, both from the podium as well as in smaller teaching seminars. It has been a privilege for Dr. Lemma to be listed by both U.S. News and World Report's and Castle Connolly in their lists of Top Doctors in the U.S., as well as being named among the Top 100 Spine Surgeons in the U.S. by Becker's Healthcare. In 2021, he was named a Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine.

Paul McAfee, MD, MBA

Paul McAfee, MD, MBA

Paul McAfee, MD, MBA is an experienced fellowship trained, board-certified spine surgeon at MedStar Orthopaedic Institute. He has been in practice for over 35 years and now sees patients in Timonium and at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He holds a joint appointment in both orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery.

Dr. McAfee’s clinical interests are spinal reconstruction, adolescent scoliosis, and correcting spinal deformities and neurologic deficits through minimally invasive spine surgery. He is a proponent of education and believes that better informed patients get better results.

Dr. McAfee has been recognized as one of Baltimore’s Top Doctors and is among U.S. News & World Report’s Top 1% of spine experts worldwide for his expertise and contributions to the field of spine surgery. He is an industry pioneer who holds 16 patents, invented a type of cervical disc replacement, and has performed more than 200 motion-preserving surgeries in 10 countries. He is a prolific researcher with more than 200 publications to his name. In addition, Dr. McAfee board certifies other orthopaedic surgeons through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Bradley Moatz, MD

Bradley Moatz, MD

Bradley Moatz, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship trained spine surgeon. He will see patients in Ellicott City / Columbia, Hunt Valley and at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Dr. Moatz’s clinical interests include spinal stenosis and degenerative spine conditions. He takes great pride in restoring functional movement to his patients and improving their quality of life.

Dr. Moatz, who completed one of the nation’s top-ranked spine fellowships at Emory University, is an accomplished author who has earned many academic honors. These honors include acceptance into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, which indicates superior academic performance, leadership, professionalism and a firm sense of ethics, future promise, and a commitment to service during medical school. He was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society as an undergraduate.

Dr. Moatz’s current research includes studies on multi-level cervical discectomies and fusions and on the biomechanics of a modular nucleus replacement system. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and Maryland Orthopaedic Association.

Zan Naseer, MD

Zan Naseer, MD

Zan Naseer, MD is a dual-fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in complex and minimally-invasive adult spine surgery as well as pediatric spine deformity and scoliosis surgery.

Dr. Naseer is a Maryland native and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with High Honors and a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology & Physiology. He subsequently received his Medical Degree from the New York Medical College, where he was elected as President of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, which recognizes physicians who exemplify the most compassionate care. During his medical training, Dr. Naseer was awarded a clinical research fellowship focused on Orthopaedic Adult Reconstruction Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine.

Dr. Naseer graduated from the New York Medical College Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program, where he was elected as Chief Resident in his final year. During this time, he trained at Westchester Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center, which is consistently ranked as #1 in the nation with the highest case-mix index, an indicator of the complexity of patients treated.

He also had the opportunity during his residency to train with world-renowned experts in orthopaedic surgery at both Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan and the Hospital for Special Surgery. He further sub-specialized in Spine Surgery and was selected to complete a combined Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical fellowship focused on both adult and pediatric spine surgery at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania and Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. During this time, Dr. Naseer had the opportunity to fulfill his passion of providing international surgical care to patients in developing countries. He has traveled to Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago where he has operated and provided surgical care for children with complex scoliosis.

Experienced in the latest surgical techniques, Dr. Naseer has advanced training in minimally invasive spine surgery techniques including computer-guided navigation surgery, robotic-assisted spinal fusions, motion-sparing spine surgery, total disc replacement, and ultrasonic spine surgery techniques. At MedStar Health, Dr. Naseer offers a full range of consultative, conservative, and surgical interventions for the treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders including degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis. His care philosophy is centered around providing compassionate and individualized care. He works with each patient to develop a personalized treatment plan, taking the patient’s preferences and needs into account.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Naseer is an accomplished researcher with numerous published book chapters and peer reviewed manuscripts in orthopaedics and spine surgery. He has given several presentations and lectures at the national level. He is also the recipient of several awards including a scholarship awarded in 2023 by the Cervical Spine Research Society. Dr. Naseer enjoys teaching and serves as an educator for the MedStar Union Memorial Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program, where he leads the resident spine education curriculum. He is also an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the North American Spine Society, AO North America, The Orthopaedic Research Society, and The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Charles Schnee, MD

Charles Schnee, MD

Charles Schnee, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon with more than 20 years of clinical experience. Part of neurosurgical services team at MedStar Health, he offers a full-range of consultative and surgical services, including minimally-invasive and microsurgical operative approaches. Dr. Schnee specializes in cranial and general neurosurgical care, as well as treatment for spinal disorders associated with degenerative disease, prior surgeries, osteoporosis, deformity, trauma, infection, congenital anomalies, and tumors.

Dr. Schnee earned his medical degree at Tufts Medical School, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Schnee served as Chief of Neurosurgical Oncology and Neurosurgery at Saint Agnes Hospital, as well as Chief Medical Officer at the Maryland Specialty Surgery Center. He also served as Chief of Spinal Surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Schnee serves as president of the Maryland Neurosurgical Society and is a fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Jugal Shah, MD

Jugal Shah, MD

Jugal Shah, MD, is a board-eligible neurosurgeon who sees patients at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, MedStar Harbor Hospital, and in Ellicott City.

Dr. Shah specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disease of the brain and spine, with a particular interest in minimally invasive and robotic spinal surgery. He treats spinal degeneration, instability, spinal cord and nerve compression, trauma, and cancer. In addition, he treats cranial pathologies including pituitary tumors, malignant brain tumors, meningiomas, hematomas, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and hydrocephalus.

As a strong communicator, Dr. Shah’s philosophy is to provide care in a “360-degree” manner. He works collaboratively with his patients, their primary care providers, and other specialists to develop personalized treatment plans. He emphasizes compassionate and accessible communication to patients and their families.

Dr. Shah earned his medical degree at University of California, San Francisco, graduating with Distinction as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellow. He then completed his training in Neurosurgery at NYU Langone Health and served as Chief Resident of the Neurosurgery Service at Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan. Currently, Dr. Shah is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

He has published multiple peer review studies and books chapter on topics of pituitary tumors, stereotactic radiosurgery, and neural stem cells.

Dr. Shah’s extensive research background, scientific knowledge, and technical expertise empower him to provide his patients with the latest advancements in neurosurgical care.

S2:E12: The Neuro Approach to Spine Surgery

Most adults have suffered from back pain at some point in their lives. If you have dealt with an injury, nagging aches, or piercing, shooting pain, you probably wondered if the pain would go away on its own. When is does further treatment, or surgery, become necessary?

MedStar Health neurosurgeon Jugal Shah, MD, demystifies back pain and spine surgery on this episode of DocTalk. Learn more about spinal conditions, how and why nature designed the spine, and which symptoms are most concerning.

Dr. Shah sees patients at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, MedStar Harbor Hospital, and in Ellicott City, Maryland. Dr. Shah specializes in brain and spine disease, with a particular interest in minimally invasive and robotic spinal surgery. He treats spinal degeneration, instability, spinal cord and nerve compression, trauma, cancer, and cranial pathologies.

Teresa Wojtasiewicz, MD

Teresa Wojtasiewicz, MD

Teresa Wojtasiewicz, MD, a Board Eligible neurosurgeon at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, treats all neurological diseases with a particular interest in Parkinson’s Disease, essential tremor, dystonia, trigeminal neuralgia, epilepsy, and spasticity. She is a general neurosurgeon and is able to provide compassionate, skilled care for any patient facing a neurosurgical illness.

Throughout the years, Dr. Wojtasiewicz has developed an interest in functional neurosurgical procedures. She has extensive experience performing a wide variety of treatments to help her patients, including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), Stereotactic EEG placement, laser ablation, and baclofen pump implantation.

Dr. Wojtasiewicz is highly skilled in using state-of-the-art technology including improving high precision and accuracy with intraoperative navigation and minimally invasive procedures to help make neurosurgery safer and gentler for her patients. She has written publications on stereotactic and functional neurosurgery and deep brain stimulation.

Dr. Wojtasiewicz is fluent in English and speaks conversational Japanese and Polish.

“Neurological problems impact people in such a profound way. I love being able to give someone back parts of their life that the illness has taken away from them. As a surgeon, I am honored to use my own hands and tools to directly address those neurological problems and help my patient begin a path to recovery.”

—Dr. Teresa Wojtasiewicz