Spine Surgery Services

Spine Surgery Services at Rush University System for Health

Spine Surgery Services

Rush spine surgeons help you determine the right surgery to address your spine surgery needs safely and effectively.

Rush spine surgeons help you determine the right surgery to address your spine surgery needs safely and effectively.

The Rush Approach to Spine Surgery

At Rush, we make sure you truly need spine surgery before we recommend it. First, we assess patients through our Spine and Back Care services. We try nonsurgical methods to address your neck, spine or back pain, including physical therapy.

If we still recommend spine surgery after that, you can rest assured we are confident surgery will help you. Our spine orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons at Rush are some of the best in the country.

We understand spine surgery may seem scary. We'll take the time to walk you through all your surgical options so you feel comfortable with your procedure.

We know that when you're in pain, you want it addressed quickly. Our goal is to see you within one to two weeks, and sooner if your situation is urgent. We welcome second opinions.

Spine Surgery Providers at Rush

Rush has spine surgery providers in Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, Oak Brook, Westchester, Naperville, Aurora/Fox Valley and Munster, Ind.

Meet our spine surgeons
stethoscope Meet our spine surgeons

Rush Excellence in Spine Surgery

  • Recognized for excellence in spine surgery: Rush University Medical Center has been designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery. This designation recognizes Rush’s commitment to high-quality care, patient safety and providing the best possible outcomes for our spine surgery patients. It also reflects our expertise with cervical and lumbar fusion, cervical laminectomy and lumbar laminectomy/discectomy procedures, which contributes to fewer complications and readmissions compared to other facilities. 
  • Extensive spine surgery experience: Spine neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons at Rush typically perform more than 2,300 spine surgeries each year. Because they see a wide variety of spine issues and can draw on their experience, they can provide you with better outcomes. Research shows that spine surgeons who perform a high volume of surgeries have better outcomes for their patients with fewer complications.
  • Minimally invasive spine surgery: Spine neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons offer a full range of minimally invasive spine surgeries. Minimally invasive spine surgeries typically mean you will have less pain and a faster recovery. Many of the more than 2,300 spine surgeries they perform each year are minimally invasive.
  • Percutaneous spine surgery: Some minimally invasive surgeries (e.g., ALIF or DLIF) can be performed percutaneously. With percutaneous minimally invasive surgery, screws used for fusion are inserted into the skin through small incisions without cutting underlying muscle as with open surgery.
  • Easier on your body: Along with minimally invasive surgeries, Rush spine surgeons use a pain management approach that leads to less reliance on opioids and less pain. In addition, our downtown Chicago location uses EOS imaging, a system that provides less radiation than traditional imaging.
  • Alternatives to spinal fusion: Rush spine surgeons have extensive experience with spine surgeries that preserve motion. For example, they participated in early FDA studies on new cervical disc replacement devices. They stay up-to-date on the latest alternatives to spinal fusion, such as dynamic stabilization.
  • Treatment for spinal tumors: Spine surgeons at Rush have expertise in minimally invasive surgery for spinal tumors on the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Minimally invasive spine surgeries allow you to recover faster. A faster recovery means you can begin chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy (as needed) sooner.
  • Making surgery safer through 3D and augmented reality tools: Spine surgery can be incredibly complex. Rush has technology that allows surgeons to create 3D surgical models. Without these models, it can be hard for surgeons to visualize all the nuances for spinal deformity and other complex surgeries. These models allow surgeons to better plan surgeries to enable better outcomes for patients. And, Rush surgeons were the first in the world to use augmented reality to superimpose 3D surgical models directly onto the surgical area for even greater accuracy.
  • Convenient options across the Rush system: Rush has spine surgery locations throughout the Chicago area, from the western suburbs to Northwest Indiana. We also have spine neurosurgeons who specialize in only one area of the spine (e.g., only cervical spine surgery), as well as spine surgeons who treat multiple issues. For additional convenience, some spine surgeries are available on an outpatient basis. Your spine care team can help you decide the best approach for you.
  • Spine surgery innovation and research: Spine surgeons at Rush conduct ongoing research and clinical trials of new treatment options and techniques for spine surgery. For instance, orthopedic spine surgeons at Rush have refined the ability to predict who would benefit from surgery, and which surgery to perform based on likely outcomes.

Get a Spine Second Opinion

Our spine surgeons can confirm your diagnosis and point you to potential new treatment options.

Get started
Get started

Clinical Trials for Spine and Back Conditions

Researchers at Rush are investigating new spine and back treatments.

See open clinical trials
See open clinical trials
Mark's Story
Testimonials

Just two months after [spine] surgery, Mark and his wife traveled to Italy where he was able to walk, hike and sightsee with no pain. 'We walked 75 miles and had a great time,' he says.

Read Mark's story

Rush Spine Surgery Locations

Select a location to see options

Chicago

Exterior view of Rubschlager Building

RUSH Neurosurgery

1520 W Harrison St
Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building - 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607

Get Directions

Hours:

Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Sat – Sun: Closed
Make an Appointment View Location
Exterior of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush

Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH

1611 W Harrison St
Orthopedic Building
Chicago, IL 60612-4861

Appointment (877) 632-6637
Get Directions View Location

Aurora/Fox Valley

Rush Copley 2040 Physician Office Building

RUSH Copley Medical Group Neurosurgery

2040 Ogden Ave
Suite 300
Aurora, IL 60504

Get Directions

Office Hours:

Mon – Thu: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Fri: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sat – Sun: Closed
Make an Appointment View Location
Rush Copley Highland Office

Castle Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine - Aurora Highland

1320 N Highland Ave
Suite B
Aurora, IL 60506

Get Directions

Office Hours:

Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat – Sun: Closed
Make an Appointment View Location
Castle Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine - Aurora Ogden

Castle Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine - Aurora Ogden

2111 Ogden Ave
Aurora, IL 60504

Get Directions

Office Hours:

Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat – Sun: Closed
Make an Appointment View Location
Rush Copley Healthcare Center

Castle Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine - Yorkville

1100 W Veterans Pkwy
Suite 1
Yorkville, IL 60560

Get Directions

Office Hours:

Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat – Sun: Closed
Make an Appointment View Location

Naperville

Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH - Naperville

55 Shuman Blvd
Suite 700
Naperville, IL 60563

Appointment (877) 632-6637
Get Directions View Location

Northwest Indiana

Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH - Munster, Indiana

9200 Calumet Ave
Suite 300
Munster, IN 46321

Appointment (877) 632-6637
Get Directions View Location

Oak Brook

Rush Oak Brook exterior

RUSH Oak Brook

2011 York Rd
Oak Brook, IL 60523

Get Directions

Hours:

Mon – Fri: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sat: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm (Every first and third Saturday; diagnostic imaging and lab hours detailed below)
Sun: Closed
Make an Appointment View Location

Oak Park/River Forest

Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush - Rush Oak Park Hospital

610 S Maple Ave
Rush Medical Office Building - Suite 1550
Oak Park, IL 60304-2802

Appointment (877) 632-6637
Get Directions View Location

Romano Orthopaedic Center

7411 Lake St
Suite 2110
River Forest, IL 60305

Get Directions Make an Appointment View Location

Westchester

Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush - Prairie Medical Center of Westchester

2430 S Wolf Rd
Suite F, Second Floor
Westchester , IL 60154

Appointment (877) 632-6637
Get Directions View Location