Dr. John Attenello is a board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the neck and back. His clinical expertise ranges from common spinal conditions, including herniated discs and spinal stenosis, to complex disorders involving spinal deformity, trauma, instability, and degenerative disease.
Dr. Attenello takes an individualized approach to spine care, utilizing both nonsurgical and surgical treatments based on each patient's condition, symptoms, anatomy, and goals. His guiding principle is straightforward: perform exactly the amount of surgery necessary to reliably solve the problem—no more and no less. For some patients, that means avoiding surgery altogether; for others, a more comprehensive procedure may be appropriate.
His approach emphasizes careful diagnosis and surgical decision-making rather than treating imaging findings alone. Dr. Attenello considers MRI and other diagnostic studies as important components of the clinical evaluation, while also assessing a patient's symptoms, physical findings, anatomy, functional limitations, and individual goals.
When surgery is indicated, Dr. Attenello utilizes minimally invasive and advanced surgical techniques when appropriate, with the goal of addressing the underlying condition while minimizing unnecessary disruption to surrounding tissues. His practice includes the treatment of degenerative spinal conditions, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, complex spinal disorders, revision surgery, spinal deformity, trauma, and instability.
For Dr. Attenello, one of the most rewarding aspects of spine surgery is helping patients regain function and return to the activities and responsibilities that pain or neurologic symptoms have taken away. He believes the most meaningful outcomes are achieved when the appropriate treatment allows patients to resume aspects of daily life that had previously become difficult or impossible.
Dr. Attenello is committed to providing patients with clear, evidence-based information and helping them make informed decisions about their care. His practice philosophy is centered on matching the treatment to the individual patient and addressing the underlying problem with the appropriate level of intervention.
