New Jersey's Source for Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery

Dr. Joshua S. Rovner M.D.

Dr. Joshua Rovner is a spinal surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic surgeon to operate in New York and New Jersey. He is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and has practice specialization in spine surgery.

The doctor is an award winning surgeon who is readily available for consultation at Progressive Spine and Orthopaedics in Englewood, New Jersey. Dr. Rovner and his team of world class spine surgeons have a reputation of offering the best revolutionary and cutting edge spinal surgery and orthopedic treatment in NJ.

Dr. Rovner is highly trained and experienced in orthopaedic and spinal surgery and provides various back and spine treatment alternatives. He received his medical degree from Downstate medical center college of medicine in the State University of New York. He later completed a residency surgery at Albert Einstein College of medicine in New York. Furthermore he completed a spine injury fellowship at the esteemed Twin Cities Spine center In Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A Layer of Compassion in the Medical Community

Dr. Rovner is not only an experienced orthopedic spine surgeon but he is also very honest and compassionate with the individuals he treats. He helps a patient to understand his/her condition and whether there is a need of spinal surgery. He also advises his patients on the best treatment option according to the unique needs of each patient. Dr. Rovner outlines the disadvantages and advantages of the available treatment alternatives. When he recommends surgery, he uses the minimal invasive surgical procedures which reduces pain, blood loss, faster recovery and optimum results.

Dr. Rovner provides a wide range of surgical specialties at Progressive Spine and Orthopaedics in Englewood, NJ, the reputable spine surgery center that he leads. Below we go into greater detail regarding some of the more minimally-invasive spine surgery procedures the doctor specializes in.

Robotic Spinal Surgery 

Robotic spinal surgery is a minimally invasive treatment designed to increase the safety and add the precision in all categories of surgeries. The precision is improved to accuracy of 1mm which reduces the risk of screw misplacement as noted in traditional surgery. Robotic spinal surgery also reduces exposure to radiation, pain after operation, risks of complication and recovery period.

Dr. Rovner, has a vast experience in robotic spinal surgery being the first to perform the procedure in New Jersey. The following are the advantages of this treatment:

• Reduces the risk of nerve damage.
• It is a fast surgery process with less risks of complication.
• It enhances accuracy for placement of screws.
• It minimizes exposure to radiation.
• It has higher degree of safety.

The only possible drawback of robotic spinal surgery is that it uses specialized technology that is only available in certain spine surgery centers. Nevertheless, Dr. Rovner offers this option at Progressive Spine & Orthopaedics and has also performed robotic spine surgery operations in New Jersey at the Hackensack University (one of the top spine centers in New Jersey with outstanding success rates.

Other areas of surgical expertise offered by Dr. Rovner include:

Laser Spine Surgery

This is a modest back surgery applying a laser to burn tissue instead of using the regular tools that cut tissue. Before getting a laser spine surgery, a patient should be examined by an independent professional from the one to perform the surgery.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion

This is a surgery applied to treat a disc herniation around the neck if surgical free treatments have failed. The surgery involves removing all or part of the herniated disc in the neck of the patient. Then the vertebral bones around the removed disc are surgically joined. Dr. Ronver reaches the disc through the neck instead of from the back.

To request consultation with Dr. Rovner, contact:

Progressive Spine & Orthopaedics
440 Curry Avenue, Suite A
Englewood, NJ 07631

So You Want to Become a Spine Surgeon?

In its very essence, spine surgeons (or otherwise known as orthopedic surgeons) are the medical professionals that have the license to operate patients suffering from musculoskeletal problems caused either by sport injuries, accidents, trauma and all spine related disorders.

Aside from performing surgery, spinal surgeons also conduct physical examinations, follow-up visits and review charts. These spine specialists are required to stand for a long period of time and they have to be ready to perform surgery on an emergency situation.

There is a great pressure that falls under a spine surgeon in the operating room which is why it is crucial that he or she remains focused and calm while on duty. However, the rewards of becoming a spine surgeon can be massively great. Learn more.

Career Requirements to Become a Spinal Surgeon

Below are some of the requirements to pursue a career as a spinal surgeon:

• Degree Level: Professional doctoral Degree 
• Name: Medical Degree, M.D. 
•  Licensure or Certification: Medical doctors have to earn their license by the state, specialty certification can also be gained 
• Experience: 
• Orthopedic residency 
• Key Skills: Strong organizational and communications skills; excellent manual dexterity Salary (Mean annual wage): $240,440 

 Sources: O*net Online and BLS (or U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The Step By Step Guide on How to Become a Spine Surgeon

Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree

Students interested in becoming a doctor must take a major that is highly concentrated with the branches of science. You have to take courses in chemistry, anatomy, biology, physics and physiology. All of the courses mentioned are a requirement for medical school admittance but they would deem useful as it prepares you for the MCAT or the Medical College Admissions Test.

Success Tip: Medical school is very competitive and everyone is looking out for any advantage to get accepted. Gain experience by volunteering on a hospital's spine surgery team or clinic to have a higher chance of getting admitted to your chosen medical school.

Step 2: Enroll to Your Chosen Medical School

The first two years of your 4-year program for medical school would be spent in labs and classrooms to receive instruction on physiology, microbiology, pharmacology and anatomy. The final years would be clinical rotations on your medical specialty.

Success Tip: Perform well on your MCAT. The result of your MCAT would be a part of your medical school admission so it is crucial that you perform well.

Step 3: Ace or Pass the Licensing Examination

You now need to pass the Medical Licensing Examination. It is a three part exam that would assess whether you understand all the scientific principles needed within your practice. It would also gauge your patient care skills and ability in working on an ambulatory setting.

Success Tip: Obtain practice materials and ask help from other professionals at reputable spine centers and spine institutes, such as this reputable spine surgery center in New Jersey.

Step 4: Complete Your Residency

You would have to take a 5-year commitment for your spine surgery residency program. It will give you a chance to experience all the surgical rotations from general surgery to the emergency room.

Further rotations will also be offered for your subspecialty like orthopedic or cardiovascular surgery. You can also look to specialize in specific areas of spine surgery, such as ankylosing spondylitis spine surgery treatment or adult scoliosis treatment. As soon as you gain enough experience, you would be given additional responsibilities and focus more on your specialty program.

Step 5: Obtain Your Specialty Certification

The American Board of Orthopedic Surgery is the one tasked to offer specialty certifications to orthopedic surgeons. The specialty certifications available are in sports medicine, spine, trauma, rehabilitation, shoulder and elbows, and joint replacement. You need to gain experience in your specialty, pass a written exam and obtain an endorsement to earn the certification.