Spine Care: Surgery, Prevention and Wellness
When it comes to back pain and neck pain, treatment is best obtained through a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach. At Westchester Medical Center, our team is comprised of experienced spine surgeons (both orthopaedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons), interventional pain management physicians, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians, and physical therapists. Many cases are discussed in a weekly conference with representatives from all departments present, providing a full multidisciplinary plan of care.
Our physicians treat the entirety of spinal conditions involving the neck and back, bony pathology, and other conditions of the nervous system. Many of our physicians are actively involved in research projects, and providers stay current and up-to-date with the newest approaches and treatment options for spinal care.
Truly comprehensive spinal care includes much more than just surgery. Our team of spine health experts focuses on disease prevention and wellness programs, as well as educating patients about their conditions and spine treatments. Our goal is to help you recover faster and return to your desired level of functioning as soon as possible. In short, we want to get you back to health.
Find an Orthopaedic Provider or Spine Surgeon Near You
To refer a patient or schedule an appointment, please call 914.789.2700.
Conditions We Treat
Our orthopaedic surgeons treat the full range of neck, back and spine problems in adults and pediatric patients, including the following.
Cervical (Neck) Injuries and Pain
- Neck pain
- Neck injury or trauma
- Cervical stenosis
- Cervical disc herniation
- Cervical disc degeneration / arthritis
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Cervical myelopathy
- Atlanto-axial instability
Thoracic Injuries and Pain
- Thoracic disc herniation
- Thoracic myelopathy
- Conus medullaris syndrome
Lumbar (Lower Back)
- Back pain
- Back injury or trauma
- Lumbar canal stenosis
- Lumbar disc herniation
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Lumbar disc degeneration / arthritis
- Sciatica
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Post-lumbar surgery chronic back pain syndrome
Whole Spine
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal fracture
- Spinal trauma
- Spinal cord injury
- Failed back syndrome
- Osteoporosis related fracture
- Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)
Tumor
- Spinal cord tumor
- Metastatic spine tumor
Scoliosis
- Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
- Congenital scoliosis
- Adult degenerative scoliosis
- Neuromuscular scoliosis
- Kyphosis
- Scheuermann’s disease (Scheuermann’s kyphosis)
Congenital Spine Conditions
- Congenital kyphosis
- Spina bifida
- Tethered cord syndrome
- Diastematomyelia
- Congenital vertebral body anomalies
- Chiari malformation
Medical Problems Involving the Spine
- Neurofibromatosis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
See an Orthopaedic Physician or Spine Surgeon Near You
To refer a patient or schedule an appointment, please call 914.789.2700.
Our Procedures
Our physicians are very experienced in a wide range of nonsurgical and surgical spine procedures. Many of these procedures can be done in an outpatient setting.
- Cervical disc arthroplasty / Artificial disc replacement
- Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
- Cervical laminectomy and foraminotomy
- Cervical laminoplasty
- Posterior cervical fusion (PCF)
- Lumbar laminectomy and foraminotomy
- Posterior lumbar fusion
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Microdiscectomy
- Endoscopic discectomy
- Minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery
- Anterior spinal surgery, such as anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF)
- Scoliosis surgery
- Vertebral body tethering
- Spine tumor excision and separation surgery
- Kyphoplasty
- Epidural steroid injection
- Spinal cord stimulation trials and implantation
Our Research
Orthopaedic surgeons at Westchester Medical Center are active in research and scholarship within their fields of specialty. Recent research includes:
- Central cord syndrome and timing of the surgery
- Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis bracing: Providence vs. Rigo-Chêneau
Advanced Technology for Advanced Orthopaedic Care
We have integrated advanced technologies into our surgical suites so that we may provide patients with even better care. Some of the technologies that help us provide leading care include:
Robotic Spine Surgery
Robotic spine surgery does not replace your surgeon. This advanced technology does provide additional information to your surgeon to facilitate a faster and safer surgery. Robotic assistance provides added precision in the placement of screws and interbody devices during surgery. Robotic technology is extremely helpful in revision spine surgery for reducing complications and providing improved patient outcomes. Your comprehensive spine team at Westchester Medical Center uses the Globus ExcelsiusGPS® spine robot.
How the Robot Works
ExcelsiusGPS® is used in spine procedures such as posterior screw and rod fixation. On the day of surgery, Intraoperative CT images are taken and imported into ExcelsiusGPS®. These images are used by your surgeon to determine the size and placement of screws and create a surgical plan based on your anatomy. The surgical plan guides the rigid robotic arm to a specific region of your spine, similar to a planned route or pathway on a GPS. The surgeon uses this pathway or route to accurately place screws using instruments.
Throughout the procedure, the surgical instruments and implants are continuously displayed on the screen for the surgeon and staff to monitor. This display allows the surgeon to view live feedback during your procedure.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery
This ultra-minimally invasive technology helps your surgeon to achieve the goal of spinal nerve root and spinal cord decompression through an extremely small incision (typically about 1 cm). As there is very little disruption of the muscles compared to traditional open surgery, your recovery immediately after surgery is quicker, easier, and less painful. In most cases, this procedure is performed as an outpatient surgery, meaning you are able to return home the same day. Minimally invasive spine surgery has been proven to aid in quicker early recovery and faster return to work after surgery.
EOSedge
EOSedge is a low dose imaging system that provides full body, high quality x-ray images. The system captures 2D/3D biplanar images in seconds with a high resolution photon-counting detector. This process yields fine quality images for proper musculoskeletal evaluation.
The EOSedge’s innovative design minimizes radiation exposure following ALADA (“as low as diagnostically acceptable”) principles to give providers the insight they need to make well-informed clinical decisions at each point of patient care.
The open-frame design provides easy and safe accessibility to patients of various heights, weights, and degrees of mobility. The high quality x-ray images help your surgeon devise the optimal surgical plan and accurately follow up on spinal deformity.
Is EOSedge right for me?
Any patient who can walk or stand with support would be able to benefit from this technology. We strive to limit radiation exposure whenever possible, especially in younger patients and those who will require multiple x-rays for monitoring their conditions – often patients with scoliosis or leg-length inequality. EOS technology allows for minimal radiation exposure while still providing valuable and accurate information regarding your child’s growth.
Spinal Stealth Navigation
This technology provides 3D visualization of the spine during surgery, further improving accuracy and precision of screw and implant placement.
Our Locations
Westchester Medical Center
100 Woods Road
Valhalla, NY 10595
Phone: 914.789.2700 (Appointments and Referrals)
Fax: 914.789.2745
For 24-hour emergent spine problems, please call: 866-Go-To-WMC (866.468.6962)
WMCHealth Physicians
100 Crystal Run Road
Middletown, NY 10941
Our Providers
Damon DelBello, MD
Section Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Scolosis and Spinal Deformity, Orthopaedic Pediatric Spine, Pediatric Orthopaedics
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Merritt Kinon, MD
Section Chief of Spinal Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center Health Network
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery, New York Medical College
- Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
Ammar Siddiqui, MD
Program Director, Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
- Anesthesiology
- Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
Rachana Tyagi, MD
Associate Director of Neurosurgery, Northern Region, Westchester Medical Center Health Network
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College
- Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Neurological Surgery
John Wainwright, MD
Attending Neurosurgeon, Spine Division
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery, New York Medical College