About me
Oliver Tannous, MD, is an orthopaedic spine surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. As a spine specialist, he utilizes state-of-the-art, minimally invasive and motion preservation techniques to treat conditions of the bones, discs, and nerves of the neck and back.
His clinical focus includes disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, ranging from isolated disc herniation to complex deformities and failed surgeries. His research interests include optimizing patient outcomes after surgery and improving techniques for eliminating postoperative spinal infections.
Dr. Tannous completed his undergraduate studies in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University. He then received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery. Prior to joining MedStar Health, he completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of California San Diego, a leading center for minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. His early interests in mechanics and how things are built, coupled with a degree in neuroscience, fueled his decision to become an orthopaedic spine specialist.
Dr. Tannous takes a conservative approach to spine care. He emphasizes the use of non-operative treatments before considering surgery. When surgery becomes necessary, he utilizes minimally invasive techniques in order to reduce the impact of surgery. He has extensive experience in revision spine procedures as well as correcting previously failed spine surgeries.
Philosophy of Care
"Becoming involved in the care of someone's health is a privilege. I treat all of my patients in the same way that I would treat my family members - with compassion and respect. When nonoperative methods fail and surgery becomes necessary, I spend a lot of time with my patients, ensuring that they fully understand the surgical process. I follow them very closely while they are in the hospital, and guide them throughout the recovery process so they can get back to a healthier life as soon as possible. I feel proud when my patients tell me that they would recommend me to their family members for care."
Patient Story:
Clinical areas of focus
- Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Cervical Spine
- Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Lumbar Spine
- Cervical Deformity
- Cervical Disc Disease
- Cervical Spine Fusion
- Complex Spine Deformities
- Complex Spine Surgery
- Degenerative Spine Conditions
- Disc Replacement
- Lumbar Spine Fusion
- Myelopathy Surgery
- Robotic Spine Surgery
- Spine Fracture
- Spine Revision
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Vertebrae
- Absent Vertebrae
- Bulging Disc
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Bone Spur
- Cervical Compression Fracture
- Cervical Deformity
- Cervical Disc Degeneration
- Cervical Disc Disease
- Cervical Disc Displacement
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spinal Stenosis
- Cervical Spine Fracture
- Coccyx Fracture
- Coccyx Injury
- Complex Spine Deformities
- Compression Fracture
- Congenital Malformation Of The Spine
- Congenital Scoliosis
- Degenerative Spine Conditions
- Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
- Flatback Syndrome Post Harrington Rods
- Foot Drag
- Herniated Disc
- Intraspinal Abscess
- Junctional Kyphosis
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar Scoliosis
- Lumbar Spine Stress Fracture
- Lumbosacral Plexus Lesions
- Lumbosacral Radiculopathy
- Meningioma Of The Spine
- Myelopathy
- Neck Arthritis
- Neurogenic Claudication
- Neuromuscular Scoliosis
- Post Laminectomy Kyphosis
- Post Laminectomy Syndrome
- Ruptured Intervertebral Disc
- Scheuermann's Disease
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Abscess
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Schwannoma
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Arthritis
- Spine Deformities
- Spine Deformity
- Spine Fracture
- Spine Osteoarthritis
- Spine Tumor
- Spondyloarthropathy
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylosis
- Spondylosis With Myelopathy
- Tarlov Cyst
- Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome
- Thoracic Herniated Disc
- Vascular Malformations Of The Spine
- Vertebral Epiphysitis
Procedures I perform
- Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering
- Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Cervical Spine
- Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Lumbar Spine
- Back Surgery
- Cervical Decompression
- Cervical Laminoplasty
- Cervical Laminotomy
- Cervical Spine Fusion
- Cervical Spine Revision
- Cervical Spine Steroid Injection
- Cervical Spine Surgery
- Complex Spine Surgery
- Cordotomy
- Craniocervical Junction Surgery
- Decompression Laminectomy
- Disc Arthroplasty
- Disc Replacement
- Disc Surgery
- Diskectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Epidural Injection
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Facet Injection
- Facet Surgery
- Growing Rods
- Instrumented Anterior Cervical Discectomy, Fusion (ACDF)
- Interspinous Device Placement
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Laminoplasty
- Lateral Access Spine Surgery
- Low Back Surgery
- Lumbar Spine Fusion
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Myelopathy Surgery
- Occipito Cervical Fusion
- Posterior Cervical Laminectomy And Fusion
- Posterior Lumbar Laminectomy
- Robotic Spine Surgery
- Sacroiliac Joint Block
- Sacroiliac Joint Fusion
- Sacroiliac Joint Surgery
- Scoliosis Surgery
- Spinal Abscess Surgery
- Spinal Cord Surgery
- Spinal Cyst Removal
- Spinal Dural Graft
- Spinal Tethering For Scoliosis
- Spine Deformity Correction Surgery
- Spine Fusion
- Spine Microsurgery
- Spine Reconstruction
- Spine Revision
- Spine Stapling
- Spondylectomy
- Spondylosis Surgery
- Spondylosyndesis
- Surgery For Sciatica
- Thoracic Laminectomy
- Thoracic Spine Fusion
- Vertebrae Surgery
- Vertebral Stapling
- Vertebroplasty
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- D-SNP)
- Tricare East Select
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Erickson Advantage Plans
- United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Tricare East Prime
- CareFirst Administrators
- United Golden Rule
- United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Kaiser Select-Added Choice
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Flexible Choice
- United Optimum Choice
- United AARP Medicare Complete
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Medicaid - District of Columbia
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
- Cigna Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
- WellPoint Maryland
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
- Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
- Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
- Innovation Health: POS
- Cigna POS/Network POS
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
- Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Cigna HMO Open Access
- Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
- United Mamsi Life & Health
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Medicaid - Virginia
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Medicaid - Maryland
- Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Choice Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Anthem Plus BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Beech Street PPO
- Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Medicare Plus
- Tricare for Life East
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Signature
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
- Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
- United Student Resources
- Anthem HMO - BCBS of VA HealthKeepers
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Choice
- Cigna Indemnity
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem (POS & Open Access POS) BCBS of VA HealthKeepers
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- United MD IPA (HMO)
- Kaiser Select
- United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Innovation Health: Open POS II
- United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
- Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
- United Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
- HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
- Carefirst EPO
- Aetna HMO
- United Navigate
- Cigna Preferred Medicare
- CareFirst NASCO
- Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Cigna EPO
- Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
- I-SNP
- Virginia Premier
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- First Health PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Residency Program: University of Maryland Medical Center (2015)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2010)
Fellowship Program: University of California San Diego ()
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Cervical Disc Replacement: A Life Changer for Detective
- Neck Surgery Patient Praises New Procedure
- Podcast - Neck and Back Pain Basics: What You Need to Know
- Case Study - Alternative to Cervical Fusion: 2-Level Cervical Disc Replacement for Cervical Radiculopathy
- Blog - Keep moving to avoid and relieve back pain
- Blog - Neck surgery with shorter recovery, better range of motion
- Blog - Why does back pain persist after surgery?