Christopher Silveri MD

Christopher P. Silveri, M.D.FAAOS

Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon : Spine View Profile
  • Dr. Silveri, at Fair Oaks Hospital, performed the hospital's first robotic spine surgery

  • I would like to express my sincere appreciation for keeping me up and running. By - Martha Howar

  • After suffering back pain for over 50 years the pain it became unbearable. By - Bob Vandel

  • Dr Silveri performed the first case using the O-Arm 3-D Imaging at Fair Oaks Hospital. Exciting New Technology

  • Thanks for the GREAT WORK! Double Fusion Feb 4, 2003 MARATHON October 30, 2005 By - Tim Bergen

  • Ballroom Dancer Fully Recovers from Back Surgery,A Laminectomy and Three Vertebra Fusion By - Tom Woll

  • Thanks Dr. Silveri.

  • Washingtonian Top Doctor 2023

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Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression is treatment to relieve pressure on one or many “pinched nerves” of the spinal column. It can be achieved either surgically or by non-surgical methods. It is used to treat conditions which cause chronic backache such as herniated disc, disc bulge, sciatica, and spinal stenosis.

Non-surgical method

A safe and non-invasive form of spinal decompression therapy is performed by a professional qualified to use a decompression machine. By this method, more room is created within the spinal column thus relieving the spinal cord and nerves from pressure. It takes nearly 15-24 treatment sessions to achieve the best results.

The DRX 9000 Spinal decompression machine is widely used to relieve chronic lower back pain. It works by creating space between the vertebrae and damaged spinal discs, helping them to heal.

The Process

 When undergoing spinal decompression, you will be made to rest on a therapeutic table that is connected to a computer which sends electronic information to stretch and decompress the spinal structure. A padded harness is worn and during the spinal decompression session, gentle force is applied to the spinal column, focusing on the area for treatment. Pressure is applied decompressing the spine, the intervertebral discs and the joints. You will experience multiple cycles of treatment lasting 2-3 minutes in each spinal decompression session. The machine is monitored by a technician. Even though you may get relief in a single therapy session, you should complete the full treatment cycle plan to gain complete healing of the injured disc.

Surgical Method

Surgical spinal decompression is performed by two procedures:

1) Microdiscectomy/micro decompression

2) Laminectomy/open decompression

Microdiscectomy: This is a minimally invasive procedure which involves removal of a portion of a herniated nucleus pulposus by a surgical instrument or LASER.

Laminectomy: This is a procedure in which a small portion of the arch of the vertebrae is removed to relieve pressure on the pinched nerve. This is performed as a last resort, when conservative treatment fails to provide relief from back pain.

  • Penn Medicine
  • American  Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  •  American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • North American Spine Society
  • Georgetown University