Harel Deutsch, MD - Associate Professor

About Harel Deutsch, MD

Dr. Deutsch's subspecialty is spine surgery. He is an Associate Professor at Rush University in Chicago and Co-Director of the Rush Spine Center. He is skilled in complex spinal procedures and spine tumor surgery. Dr. Deutsch specilizes in the care of patients with degenerative and traumatic disease of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine with a strong emphasis on minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Deutsch has a special interest in failed previous spine surgery and failed back syndrome. He is also involved in research on motion preservation technology and artificial disc technology.

Dr. Deutsch has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and has published abstracts and book chapters. His research interest is in the etiology of chronic back pain. He is also involved in professional education on a national level .

Dr. Deutsch earned his medical degree from University of Miami School of Medicine, graduating with honors in 1996. He completed his internship in surgery and residency in neurosurgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Following his residency, Dr. Deutsch continued with a Spine Surgery Fellowship at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA. He joined Rush University Medical Center in Chicago in 2003.

Publications

To view Dr. Deutsch's publications, please click here.

Articles Written by Harel Deutsch, MD

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) Causes

There are many potential causes of failed back surgery syndrome and most times neither the patient nor the spine surgeon is to blame.

Is a Revision Spine Operation After Failed Back Surgery Right for Me?

Why your doctor may recommend non-surgical treatments to treat failed back surgery syndrome, and what types of spinal conditions causing FBSS need spine surgery first.

What You Need to Know About Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Failed back surgery doesn’t suggest that you or your surgeon have failed. Many different factors can lead to failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS, FBS, post-laminectomy syndrome) are out of your control.

Failed Back Surgery Treatments: Spinal Pumps and Spinal Cord Stimulation

Failed back surgery syndrome symptoms may be treated using a spinal pain pump or spinal cord stimulator. Either neuromodulation device may be implanted after a successful trial period to help manage back and/or neck pain and related symptoms

Revision Neck Surgery After Failed Back Surgery

When is a second neck surgery or cervical revision spine surgery needed? 10 things to know, the purpose of revision surgery, surgical procedures and questions to ask

Interventional Treatments for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: Radiofrequency Ablation and Adhesiolysis

Failed back surgery syndrome treatment may include radiofrequency ablation to help manage nerve and/or joint back pain. Adhesiolysis may be performed remove scar tissue.

How Physical Therapy Treats Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Physical therapy or physiotherapy is often part of a multidisciplinary program to treat failed back surgery syndrome, FBSS. Treatment includes passive and active therapies to help manage back pain and other symptoms

Medication Treatment for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Over-the-counter drugs, prescription medications and medical marijuana may be part of your multidisciplinary plan to treat failed back surgery syndrome pain and symptoms.

Diagnosis of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Diagnosis of failed back surgery involves a comprehensive physical exam and neurological evaluation and in-depth review of your back or neck pain, symptoms and medical history.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) Symptoms

Back pain after spine surgery is common, but how can you tell if it’s beyond the typical pain of recovery? Failed back surgery syndrome symptoms and signs.

Anterior Cervical Fixation: Plating

Anterior cervical plating enhances arthodesis (fusion) after discectomy.

Anterior Cervical Spine Fixation: Material Technologies

The most commonly available polymer is polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The PEEK graft replacements are stronger than bone but they are softer and less likely to cause the adjacent bone to collapse.

New Technologies in Anterior Cervical Spine Fixation

Recent advances in several different fields are significantly impacting anterior cervical spine fixation. Material engineering has developed several types of new materials to replace traditionally used bone products and titanium.

References: New Technologies in Anterior Cervical Spine Fixation

Article References.

Case Studies Presented by Harel Deutsch, MD

Lumbar Failed Back Surgery Post Laminectomy

Presented by: H. Deutsch MD

Failed back surgery syndrome in a 69-year-old male celebrity, who had multilevel lumbar laminectomies in 2015 by a surgeon other than the case author.

Articles Reviewed by Harel Deutsch, MD

Surgery for Adult Spinal Deformity Improves Gait Patterns, but Limitations Remain

Surgical correction of adult spinal deformity was linked to improvements in gait patterns, but patients still show...

Diabetes May Diminish QOL Improvement Following Lumbar Decompression

Diabetes was an independent predictor of diminished improvement in quality of life (QOL) after lumbar decompression surgery in a recent retrospective review.

Elderly Women Report Worse Outcomes than Men Following Lumbar Discectomy, but Similar Satisfaction Rate

A review of the Swedish registry for spine surgery that looked at gender differences in over 1,000 elderly patients (age >65 years) who had a lumbar discectomy.

Financial Disclosures

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Author's Statement

I, or an immediate family member, have a financial interest(s) or affiliation(s) with the following commercial companies whose products and / or services may be mentioned in the materials I have authored, edited or reviewed for presentation on Vertical Health, LLC’s websites.

Disclosed Relationships

Consultant/Independent Contractor

Stryker

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