American Board of Orthopedic Surgery Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
Dhruv B. Pateder, MDNeurosurgical and Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Board Certified Minimally Invasive & Robotic Spine Surgery
Dr. Pateder specializes in all aspects of spinal surgery ranging from complex scoliosis surgery to newer muscle sparing minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Pateder is dual trained in neurosurgery and orthopedic spinal surgery and double board certified in spine surgery and orthopedic surgery.
About dr. PatederBook an Appointment
Honors & Awards
Northern Virginia Magazine
Top Doctor 2022
Washingtonian Magazine
Top Doctor 2022
Northern Virginia Magazine
Top Doctor 2021
Washingtonian Magazine
Top Doctor 2021
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive procedures are performed with the help of an endoscope and small surgical instruments which are passed through the small incisions, to access the spine and perform the surgery. An endoscope has a tiny video camera attached to its end, which illuminates and provides better visualization of the operating area. Read more
Publications & Presentations
2010
Pateder DB, Benzel E. Non-Instrumented Facet Fusion in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Laminectomy Read More
2008
Pateder DB, Gonzales RA, Kebaish KM, Cohen DB, Chang JY, Kostuik JP. Short Term Mortality and Its Association Read More
2008
Pateder DB, Gonzales RA, Kebaish KM, Antezana DF, Cohen DB, Chang JY, Kostuik JP. Pulmonary Embolism in Adult Read More
Ask Dr. PatederFrequently Asked Questions
How many bones make up the spinal column?
There are 33 bones that make up the spinal column. There are 7 bones in the neck (cervical spine), 12 in the trunk (thoracic spine), 5 in the low back (lumbar spine), 5 fused bones that attach the spine to the pelvis (sacrum) and 3 fused bones form the ‘tail bone’ (coccyx).
What is the SI (sacroiliac) joint?
This joint is formed at the junction of the sacrum (the end of the spinal column) and the pelvis (specifically, the iliac bone of the pelvis). It is a vertical joint that experiences shear stress. The two bones are held in place and stabilized by very strong ligaments. This joint is a common source of buttock/back pain.
What is a "disc"?
The bones of the spine (vertebrae) are stacked on top of each other with soft cushioning discs located in between them (intervertebral discs). These discs can be imagined as a jelly doughnut.
What is a spinal nerve?
The nerve roots exit the central spinal columns at different levels of the spine; for example, the L4-5 nerve root is the nerve that exits the spinal column between the L4 (fourth lumbar vertebrae) and L5 (fifth lumbar vertebrae).
