AHN Spine Center

Conditions we treat

Our comprehensive Spine Center’s expert team of neurosurgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all causes of neck, back, and nerve pain. We use cutting edge techniques such as spinal navigation, spinal instrumentation, as well as minimally invasive techniques when appropriate. Conditions that are commonly treated at our comprehensive spine center include:

• Spinal compression syndromes: Including cervical myelopathy, thoracic myelopathy, and spinal stenosis.
• Disc-related disorders: These disorders include disc herniations, degenerative disc disease including nerve pain, and sciatica.
• Spinal deformities: This condition can include cervical deformity, thoracic kyphosis, scoliosis, and adult degenerative deformities.
• Spinal trauma and fractures: For those who have experienced spinal trauma and fractures, as well as spinal cord injuries.
• Surgical interventions: Using highly advanced interventions, we perform spinal fusions, discectomy, and revision surgery.
• Spinal tumors: In the event spinal tumors are found, our team can recommend tailored treatment options. Learn more about spinal tumors. 
• Complex pain syndromes: For those whose pain interferes with their daily life, we can provide targeted relief.

These procedures are performed at most AHN hospitals and same day surgery centers.

Diagnostic services and treatments

The AHN spine surgery team brings together fellowship-trained neurological and orthopaedic spine surgeons who share one goal: Relieving your pain while disrupting your life as little as possible. By combining the strengths of both specialties under one program, we deliver some of the most advanced minimally invasive spine care in the region — often allowing patients to walk out the same day and recover at home.

Endoscopic spine surgery

Endoscopic spine surgery is at the leading edge of minimally invasive care. Using a high-definition camera and specialized instruments passed through an incision smaller than a fingertip — often less than one centimeter — our surgeons can treat herniated discs, pinched nerves, and spinal stenosis without cutting through the muscles that support your spine.

Because surrounding tissue is preserved rather than disrupted, patients typically experience dramatically less pain, minimal blood loss, and a faster return to the activities they love. Many endoscopic procedures are performed with the patient awake or under light sedation, and most people go home within hours.

Minimally invasive spinal fusion

For patients who need a fusion to stabilize the spine, we offer minimally invasive techniques that achieve the same time-tested results as traditional surgery — through much smaller incisions. Rather than detaching muscle from bone, our surgeons work through small portals using tubular retractors, intraoperative navigation, and, in many cases, robotic guidance for exceptional precision in screw placement. Minimally invasive spine treatments continue to evolve and advancements can deliver patients with quicker recovery and decreased pain.

The result is greater accuracy, less tissue trauma, reduced infection risk, and a smoother recovery. Procedures that once meant multi-day hospital stays and lengthy rehabilitation are now performed with remarkable efficiency and comfort.

Home the same day

One of the most meaningful advances in modern spine care is the ability to go home the same day as surgery. Through careful patient selection, advanced anesthesia and pain-management protocols, and refined surgical techniques, many of our minimally invasive procedures — including select endoscopic decompressions and fusions — are now performed on an outpatient basis.

Same-day discharge means you recover in the comfort of your own home, with a lower risk of hospital-acquired complications and a quicker return to normal routines. Our team supports you every step of the way, from presurgery preparation to a clear, personalized recovery plan.

AHN Spine Center specialists

Our expert team of neurosurgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all causes of neck, back, and nerve pain.

Schedule your appointment today

To see a spine specialist, schedule an appointment by calling a regional office near you.

Pittsburgh Central

Pittsburgh North

Pittsburgh East

Pittsburgh South

Erie

What to expect at your new patient visit

When you receive care at AHN Neuroscience and our comprehensive Spine Center, you’re working with board-certified neurologists, neurosurgeons, and pain management physicians who can deliver highly specialized treatments using the latest, most advanced technologies. We encourage you to sign up for AHN MyChart access where you can complete some new patient paperwork and questionnaires through the MyChart web portal or the MyChart smartphone app.

Plan to arrive at the check-in desk about 30 minutes prior to the start of your appointment. That will provide enough time for the necessary intake information. Even if you use the eCheck-In through the MyChart, we ask that you arrive at a check-in desk 15 minutes before the start of your appointment to make sure we have your appropriate information.

What to take to your first visit

We recommend that you bring a trusted friend or family member to attend any appointment, but we do not recommend taking young children who cannot be left unattended in the waiting rooms. There are also certain items and paperwork you’ll want to have with you, so our office staff and healthcare team have your necessary information.

Required identification and payment

In order to process your information and start your appointment on time, please bring:

• Insurance cards.
• Photo ID.
• Copay (no cash accepted).

Medical information and records

Please bring copies of previous medical records, including office visit notes, lab work, hospital stay summaries, and radiology reports from outside health organizations. You’ll also want to have a complete list of medications and supplements, including dosing amounts.

For worker’s compensation or auto claim purposes, please have: date of injury, claim number, billing address, and the name and phone number of the claims adjuster.

Imaging studies (if applicable)

If you have had imaging studies done at outside of Allegheny Health Network imaging locations, you will need to:

• Contact the imaging facility and request a physical disc with the imaging and radiologist report.
• Some sites will require a few days to a week’s notice before you can pick up the disc.
• If you do not have copies of imaging, your initial evaluation will be incomplete, and we may need to schedule additional appointments. 

Personal items and equipment (if applicable)

If you will require any personal items or medical equipment — walker, cane, wheelchair, oxygen — that will make your post-procedure care easier, please bring that with you.

Clinical trials and research

We have a robust spine research institute with ongoing clinical studies that include advancements in:

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are studies that try to answer questions about new ways to treat conditions with medications, radiation, or surgical techniques. Previous trials have shown how new methods of treatment improve survival and quality of life. You participate in a clinical trial only if you volunteer to do so and meet criteria for inclusion in the study. You can also stop participating in a trial at any time.

Who can join a clinical trial?

The plan for the trial, called a protocol, explains what the trial will do and how the study will be done. Based on the questions the research is trying to answer, each clinical trial protocol outlines specific criteria necessary to be eligible to join the trial.

Common criteria for entering a trial are:

• Having a certain condition.
• Having received a certain kind of therapy in the past.
• Being in a certain age group.
• Federal rules help ensure that clinical trials are run in an ethical manner, with your rights and safety protected. It’s to ensure that you’re not put at increased risk by participating in the trial, and that the results of the study are accurate and meaningful.

Currently active clinical trials

If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and help our innovative team discover groundbreaking health solutions, ask your doctor if you’re eligible to participate in one. Find active clinical trials that are open for participation.

Refer your patient to AHN Neurosurgery

If you have a patient that you would like to refer to AHN Neurosurgery, call 412-359-6200. Please fax pertinent records to 412-359-6617. For more information about referring your patient to an AHN specialist, read the  Independent Physician Referral FAQs.

After referring your patient

Once your patient is receiving care from an AHN specialist, you can view their test results, see their treatment plan, follow their treatment progress, and collaborate with our team using the EpicCare® Link™ platform. If you are new to EpicCare Link, you’ll need to request your own EpicCare Link account. There, you can also find user instructions and new account request forms.

Releasing medical records to EpicCare Link

If you can't access your patient's AHN test results through the EpicCare Link platform, your patient will need to complete and submit the correct AHN Medical Records Release form based on their state of residency. You can download and print this form for your patients. 

Refer your patient to an AHN specialist