Specialized Neurospine Care for Spinal Disorders

AHN offers specialized neurosurgical spine care through AHN Neuroscience Institute. Physicians combine advanced treatment options, multidisciplinary collaboration, and personalized care plans to ensure patients receive the right diagnosis and the right treatment at the right time.

A comprehensive approach to spine care

Highly skilled surgeons at AHN Neuroscience Institute provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for the full spectrum of spinal disorders, including:

• Degenerative cervical, thoracic, and lumbar conditions
• Disc herniations
• Spinal stenosis
• Spinal cord compression
• Spinal deformity and scoliosis
• Spinal tumors
• Vertebral fractures
• Spinal infections

Among the physicians leading that care is Daniel J. Myers, MD, a neurosurgeon at AHN Jefferson Hospital who specializes in complex spine surgery, spinal oncology, and minimally invasive procedures. His approach emphasizes accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment planning, with surgery considered only when nonoperative management is unlikely to achieve optimal outcomes.

“The first and foremost part of our job is helping patients arrive at the right diagnosis,” said Dr. Myers. “From there, we can determine the most appropriate treatment pathway, whether that's rehabilitation, pain management, or surgery.”

Advanced capabilities for complex cases

If surgery is recommended, patients benefit from expertise in emerging technologies, such as robotic-assisted navigation, that expand treatment choices beyond traditional spinal fusion, increase precision, and improve long-term outcomes.

“We offer everything from minimally invasive decompressions to more advanced approaches that can reduce surgical time, blood loss, and recovery time,” says Dr. Myers. “The goal is always to find the strategy that reduces risk and gets patients back to their lives as safely and quickly as possible.”

By carefully evaluating spinal mechanics before surgery, the team can often reduce the likelihood of future degeneration and repeat procedures for patients.

Multidisciplinary care that benefits patients

AHN neurosurgeons routinely consult with one another, leveraging individual subspecialty expertise to ensure patients are matched with the most appropriate physician for their condition.

This collaborative approach is crucial, as many highly specialized spine conditions require multidisciplinary care. This is especially true for patients with spinal tumors or metastatic disease.

“Cancer care is always a team sport, because everybody is working toward the same goal,” says Dr. Myers.

The team at AHN Neuroscience Institute also works with medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, pain management, rehabilitation, and physical therapy to develop care plans that prioritize function, symptom relief, and quality of life.

When to refer patients for neuro-spine evaluation

While many cases of neck pain, back pain, and radicular symptoms improve without advanced care, certain signs and symptoms warrant evaluation. Early consultation can be valuable for patients even when surgery is not anticipated. Dr. Myers encourages providers to consider neurospine referral for patients experiencing:

• Progressive neurologic deficits
• Significant loss of function
• Difficulty walking
• Unexplained bowel or bladder dysfunction
• Severe arm or leg pain
• Persistent neck and back pain that fails to improve

Providers do not need to complete an extensive workup before referral. The team at AHN Neuroscience Institute can help determine appropriate imaging, coordinate additional evaluation as needed, and guide patients through treatment pathways.

How to refer

To refer a patient or learn more about neurospine treatment options through AHN Neuroscience Institute, call 412-359-6200. For urgent concerns — including progressive neurologic deficits, significant loss of function, suspected tumor, infection, or trauma — send a message to Dr. Myers through Epic or contact him directly via email.