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Spine and Back Surgery

Facing spine surgery may seem intimidating. At Allegheny Health Network’s Spine Center, we are with you every step of the way. We explain what to expect at each stage, so you feel confident and informed about your care. When you come to AHN, you’re in the hands of highly skilled neurosurgeons who are dedicated to helping you get back to living your life.

Our neurosurgeons use advanced minimally invasive and traditional spine surgery techniques to treat people with a range of common and complex conditions. Hundreds of patients every year experience significant relief from back pain and other stubborn symptoms – and the relief often begins the day of surgery.

Spine surgery at AHN: Why choose us?

When you choose AHN’s Spine Center for spine surgery, you’ll be under the care of our leading neurosurgeons. Our neurosurgeons are board-certified and fellowship-trained, which gives them a deep understanding of spine conditions and treatments.

Our team has pioneered several of the minimally invasive procedures that surgeons across the country use to treat spine and back conditions.

Patients undergo spine surgery in one of our sophisticated operating suites, which use advanced imaging systems and tools. This equipment helps our surgeons perform shorter, less invasive, and more precise procedures that deliver significant pain relief with the same excellent outcomes as traditional spine surgeries.

Conditions we treat with spine surgery

Our spine experts treat a wide range of spine conditions, including:

  • Arthritis of the spine
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Cervical, lumbar, and thoracic disk herniation
  • Chiari malformation
  • Compression fractures of the spine
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Facet disease
  • Myelopathy and radiculopathy
  • Occipital neuralgia
  • Sciatica
  • Spinal tumors
  • Spondylolisthesis

Common spine surgeries

Common types of spinal surgery include:

  • Disc removal (discectomy)
  • Disc replacement
  • Spinal decompression (laminectomy)
  • Spinal fusion

Spine surgery: The right approach for you

Our care team considers multiple factors, such as your age, overall health, personal preferences, and symptom severity, before deciding whether spine surgery will benefit you.

If your physician recommends surgery as part of your treatment plan, we’ll discuss all of your surgical options to determine the best approach for you. We’ll also explain the specific surgery in detail, including what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

Expertise in traditional and minimally invasive spine surgery

Our neurosurgeons have years of experience treating a wide variety of symptoms and conditions with both traditional and minimally invasive procedures. We aim to use the least invasive procedure possible. Minimally invasive procedures use smaller incisions and typically result in a shorter recovery, less pain, and less scarring.

We always have your best long-term health in mind. Together with you, we may determine that the most effective approach may be a traditional “open” surgery. AHN neurosurgeons are skilled in performing these procedures, with excellent results. With either the traditional or minimally invasive approach, the goal is to ease your symptoms and help you return to an active life. Learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery.

Same-day spine surgery for herniated disks and stenosis

Patients suffering from a cervical or lumbar disk herniation, or stenosis — who are active and in otherwise good health — can benefit from a minimally invasive surgery that has them home and recovering on the same day.

AHN neurosurgeons use advanced techniques to treat disk
herniations, including:

  • Minimally invasive surgical procedures using tiny incisions, which result in fewer complications.
  • Pain control practices that decrease the need for narcotic use after surgery. 
  • Advanced anesthesia protocols that speed the healing process. 

Contact us

To schedule an appointment or learn more about AHN neuroscience services., call (724) 228-1414 in Pittsburgh or (814) 452-7575 in Erie.

If you're an existing patient, you can also call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 in Pittsburgh or request an appointment with AHN neuroscience services.