Center for Spine Health

Overview

Each year, Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Spine Health helps thousands of patients with conditions of the back and neck, ranging from the most common to the most complex. Whether your goal is to get back to sports, work, hobbies or just enjoying life, the specialists at the Center for Spine Health can help.

Our specialists are nationally recognized in orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery and medical spine and provide patients with the latest, most innovative, most effective medical and surgical treatments available for back and neck problems.

What We Treat

Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Spine Health services run the gamut of spine care, including:

• Interventional spine therapies.
• Mature spine care.
• Medical spine evaluation and treatment.
• Pediatric and adolescent spine care.
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy.
• Spine care in pregnancy.
• Spinal and pelvic manipulation.
• Spine injury prevention.
• Spine surgery.
• Spine wellness.

Conditions we treat include, but are not limited to the following:

• Chronic Pain.
• Degenerative Back Conditions.
• Degenerative Neck Conditions.
• Peripheral Nerve Injury.
• Radiculopathy.
• Sciatica.
• Spinal Deformities/Scoliosis.
• Spinal Fractures.
• Spinal Stenosis.
• Spinal Tumors.
• Spondylosis.
• Spondylolisthesis.

Other Conditions Treated

We also treat other spine-related conditions including arachnoid cysts, compression fractures, hip and leg pain, musculoskeletal impairments, peripheral nerve disorders, post-laminectomy syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, schwannoma, spinal instability and spinal vascular disorders, along with those listed below:

• Acute Low/Mechanical Back Pain.
• Arthritis.
• Bursitis.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
• Herniated Disc.
• Low Back Pain.
• Neck and Shoulder Pain.
• Neurofibromatosis.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Osteoporosis.
• Spondyloarthropathy.
• Trochanteric Bursitis.

Treatments & Services

Spine patients present with a broad array of complaints demanding accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. At the Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health, the conditions we treat include but are not limited to: 

• Degenerative back and neck disorders.
• Spondylolisthesis.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Disc herniation.
• Spinal fracture.
• Deformities, including scoliosis and kyphosis.
• Primary and metastatic spinal tumors.

Find detailed information about our services and treatments:

• Center for Spine Health Back Pain Treatment Guide.

From periodic monitoring to intensive surgical correction, we provide state-of-the-art management for back and spine problems. When you refer to the Center for Spine Health, you ensure your patient the benefits of skilled, experienced specialty and subspecialty care and access to the latest technologies.

Among the many therapeutic options we offer are:

• Medical spine evaluation and treatment.
• Spine surgery.
• Mature spine care.
• Spine wellness.
• Spine injury prevention.
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy.
• Interventional spine therapies.
  • Lumbar Facet Injection.
  • Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection.
  • Sacroiliac Joint Injection.
  • Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation to Treat Lumbar Facet Joint Pain.

Spine Health surgeons have a high success rate for even the most complex procedures. Moreover, we are skilled in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. Although not indicated for all patients or conditions, these techniques may offer specific advantages for selected patients. Lumbar procedures are the most commonly performed surgeries, followed by cervical and thoracic procedures. The most common surgical conditions are degenerative spine conditions such as disc herniation and spinal stenosis followed by spinal deformity, such as scoliosis and kyphosis, fracture/trauma and spine tumor.

Corrective treatments range from minimally invasive decompression to spinal osteotomy, which is highly complex and is regularly performed at only a small number of spine centers in the United States.

Programs

Center for Comprehensive Pain Recovery

The Center for Comprehensive Pain Recovery was formed with the over-arching goal of providing the most effective treatment and evaluation for individuals with chronic pain based on a “whole-person” model of care.

• Learn more about our Center for Comprehensive Pain Recovery.

Minimally Invasive and Robotic Spine Surgery

Discover how surgeons from Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Spine Health are using the latest approaches and technology in minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery to help give patients relief by treating cases of degenerative discs, scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal column tumors, infection, fractures and herniated discs.

• Learn more about Minimally Invasive and Robotic Spine Surgery.

Peripheral Nerve Neurosurgery

Cleveland Clinic’s Peripheral Nerve Neurosurgery Program provides a team-based approach to specialty care for acute nerve injuries, entrapment neuropathies, benign nerve tumors and other nerve disorders.

• Learn more about Peripheral Nerve Neurosurgery Program.

Spinal Deformity Program

Cleveland Clinic's Spinal Deformity Program provides specialized care for patients with cervical deformity, scoliosis, complex revision spine surgery, and similar conditions.

• Learn more about our Spinal Deformity Program.

Spine Tumor Program

Cleveland Clinic’s Spine Tumor Program offers the highest-quality care for screening, diagnosis and treatment of spine tumors.

• Learn more about our Spine Tumor Program.

Our Team

Our specialists in Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Spine Health are committed to putting patients first through clinical excellence, collaboration and compassionate care. That begins with helping you find the right spine specialist to treat your specific condition. Learn more about our specialists.

Michael Steinmetz, MD
Department Chair

Doctors & Surgeons

View the profiles of our:

• Spine Surgeons.
• Medical/ Interventional Spine Physicians.
• Comprehensive Pain Recovery Providers.
• Peripheral Nerve Injury Neurosurgeon.
• Certified Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants.

Appointments

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment with a Center for Spine Health specialist, please call 216.636.5860 or 866.588.2264.

Virtual Visits

Whether you're a new or existing patient, you can get an initial evaluation or follow-up care from a spine specialist using your phone, tablet or computer. This means there's no travel or parking, less waiting and significant time savings. Call 216.636.5860 to schedule a virtual visit for you or a loved one and get details on cost and set-up instructions.

• Learn more about virtual visit options for scheduled appointments.

MyChart

MyChart connects you to your health care team from the comfort and safety of home. With this secure, online tool you can manage your appointments and complete pre-visit tasks, communicate with your providers, and keep track of your test results and medications.

• Visit clevelandclinic.org/mychart to get started.

Locations

Avon - Richard E. Jacobs Health Center Avon Hospital at Richard E. Jacobs Campus Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Elyria Family Health Center Concord Township Medical Outpatient Center Fairview Hospital Hillcrest Hospital Hillcrest Medical Office Building I Independence Family Health Center Lakewood Family Health Center Lorain Family Health and Surgery Center Lutheran Hospital Medina Hospital Medina Medical Office Building Mentor Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy Sheffield Family Health Center Solon Family Health Center South Pointe Hospital Strongsville Family Health and Surgery Center Twinsburg Family Health and Surgery Center Westlake Medical Campus Building A Willoughby Hills Family Health Center

Clinical Trials & Research

Spine Health Research Programs

The Neurological Institute advances research into diseases of the brain and spine and conducts clinical therapeutic trials to support patients with neurological disorders. Our multidisciplinary research collaboration combines the expertise of clinical principal investigators with state-of-the-art imaging and data analysis to establish and implement new approaches to the treatment of neurological diseases. In addition, the Neurological Institute trains clinical fellows, full-time research fellows and residents as next generation clinical research scientists.

Clinical trials and research are the key to advancing medical knowledge and patient care. They provide hope by testing new drugs, new surgical techniques or other treatments before they are available.

• Access our spine center clinical trials.
• Learn about our spine center research programs.

Medical Professionals

Refer a Patient

The Center for Spine Health offers direct referral lines to ease the process of making a patient referral.

To refer a patient to the Neurological Institute via phone, please call our dedicated physician referral hotline at 216.445.8455. An intake coordinator will handle your call directly. If you are unable to reach an intake coordinator, please leave a message and they will return your call within the work day (if left before 1 p.m. ET) or the next work day (if left after 1 p.m. ET).

To refer a patient to the Neurological Institute via fax, please download and complete our physician referral form and fax to 216.636.2596.

• Physician Referral Form.

DrConnect

Stay connected to patients you refer to Cleveland Clinic through online updates and electronic medical records.

• Learn More.
• Sign-up or Log in.

Our goals at the Center for Spine Health: improve patient care, develop unique technology and sub-specializations, and promote cross-fertilization of ideas among our staff.

Cleveland Spine Review: Hands-On CME

To learn more about this Cleveland Clinic Live CME Event contact tobinm@ccf.org or 216.445.3449, or visit us online.

Please plan to attend in 2023: July 19-24, 2023 at Lutheran Hospital.

Related Content:

• DrConnect offers secure, physician-to-physician medical record access.
• Sports Health offers evaluation and management of sports-related concussions.
• Continuing Medical Education courses, offered annually, include spine treatment updates and the latest surgical advancements in the field.
• Visit our Spine Research Laboratory.
• Learn more about our Fellowships: Spine Medical Fellowship & Spine Surgery Fellowship.

Resources

Back Pain

• Download our Back Pain Treatment Guide.
• Help Me Fix It: Dr. Besser Goes in Search of Back Pain Relief with Edward Benzel, MD.

Posture

What is good posture?

Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or laying down. Good posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments.

Proper posture:

• Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly.
• Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces.
• Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.
• Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions.
• Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy.
• Prevents backache and muscular pain.
• Contributes to a good appearance.
• Learn more about good posture.
• Learn more about exercise for a healthy back.

Scoliosis

• Scoliosis Fact Sheet.

Spine Injections

Learn more about preparing for your interventional spinal procedure:

• Download our Main campus Pre and Post Surgery Instructions.
• Download our Main campus Post Injections Instructions.
• Download our Regional Post Injection Instructions.
• Download our Lumbar Facet Injection Fact Sheet.
• Download our Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Fact Sheet.
• Download our Sacroiliac Joint Injection Fact Sheet.
• Download our Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation to Treat Lumbar Facet Joint Pain Fact Sheet.

Your Surgical Experience

Having any kind of surgery can be a stressful experience for patients, as well as for your family members and friends. At the Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health, our entire staff is not only committed to providing you with the highest quality care available - from surgery to rehabilitation - we’re also committed to making your entire experience with us as comfortable as possible. We share your goal: to restore function and quality of life to you and your family.

Pre-Admission Testing

Your preparation prior to the procedure is a very important part of your overall surgery experience. Pre-Admission Testing, which takes place several days before the surgery, includes conducting a medical history and physical, lab work, and other tests. Getting this information in advance helps our surgical team choose the safest possible medications, including anesthesia, for you, which helps to make your upcoming surgery as safe as possible.

• Learn more about preparing for surgery.

What to Expect

For additional important details about what you can expect before and after your surgery:

• Download our Spine Surgery Instruction Sheet.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the Center for Spine Health appointment line locally at 216.636.5860 or toll-free at 866.588.2264.

Spine-Related Links

• Academy of Osteopathy.
• American Chiropractic Association.
• American Osteopathic Association.
• American Spinal Injury Association.
• Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation.
• International Spinal Cord Society.
• National Library of Medicine.
• National Scoliosis Foundation.
• National Spinal Cord Injury Society.
• North American Spine Society.
• Scoliosis: Life, Support and Friends.
• Spine-Health.
• Spine Universe.
• World Health Organization.