HSS Expands Spine Care in New Jersey with New Multidisciplinary Center in Paramus
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), widely recognized as the world’s leading academic medical center dedicated to musculoskeletal health, has expanded its footprint in New Jersey with the launch of a new Spine Center in Paramus. This facility represents a major step in HSS’s commitment to providing world-class spine care closer to home for residents of Bergen County and the surrounding communities.
Located at 140 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Suite 175S, the new 14,000-square-foot center brings together a team of multidisciplinary experts under one roof to treat a full spectrum of back and neck conditions, ranging from the common to the highly complex. With 11 exam rooms and a streamlined design built to support both patients and providers, the Spine Center is poised to serve as a regional hub for advanced spine health.
Building on a Legacy of Spine Excellence
HSS has long been recognized for setting global standards in orthopedic and spine care. Its main campus in New York City consistently ranks among the top hospitals for orthopedics, and it has earned a reputation as a destination for patients seeking specialized spine expertise. By bringing these resources into Northern New Jersey, HSS is ensuring that patients no longer need to travel into Manhattan to access the same quality of care.
“HSS has long set the standard for excellence and innovation in spinal care,” said Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA, President and CEO of HSS and Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus. “Together with the HSS Northern NJ Surgery Center and HSS Paramus – Midland Avenue, the Spine Center reflects our commitment to making high-quality care accessible to local communities as well as the growing need for spine services in New Jersey.”
The Spine Center in Paramus is not an isolated expansion. It is part of a strategic regional growth plan that includes two other recent additions:
- HSS Paramus – Midland Ave: A full-service outpatient center offering a broad range of specialties and diagnostic services.
- HSS Northern NJ Surgery Center in Mahwah: The first HSS ambulatory surgery center in New Jersey, designed to provide advanced surgical care in a convenient, patient-focused environment.
Together, these three facilities form a robust care network that extends HSS’s reach well beyond Manhattan and into one of New Jersey’s most populated and medically active counties.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Spine Health
A key hallmark of the new Spine Center is its multidisciplinary model of care. Patients with back or neck problems often require input from multiple specialists, and at the Paramus location, these experts work side by side to provide coordinated treatment plans.
The team includes:
- Spine Surgeons specializing in complex surgical interventions.
- Pain Management Physicians offering nonsurgical therapies such as injections and medication management.
- Neurologists skilled in diagnosing and managing nerve-related spinal conditions.
- Physiatrists (rehabilitation specialists) who design exercise and therapy plans to restore function.
- Radiologists with expertise in imaging for spine-related diagnoses.
“Each of our physicians specializes in treating people with conditions and injuries affecting the spine,” said Anil S. Ranawat, MD, a sports medicine surgeon who also serves as the Medical Director of the new Spine Center. “This high degree of expertise and collaboration ensure that each patient receives an individualized treatment plan tailored to their specific needs, supporting optimal outcomes and continuity of care.”
This team-based approach eliminates the need for patients to travel between different offices or wait weeks for referrals. Instead, they benefit from integrated, streamlined care delivered in a single location.
Conditions Treated
The HSS Spine Center is designed to care for a wide range of back and neck problems. These include:
- Common conditions such as herniated discs, sciatica, and degenerative disc disease.
- Complex deformities like scoliosis and kyphosis.
- Traumatic injuries involving the spine.
- Spinal stenosis, arthritis, and chronic back pain.
“Our team includes physicians with expertise in the latest nonsurgical approaches, as well as skilled spine surgeons with advanced training and special expertise,” said Andrew A. Sama, MD, a spine surgeon and co-chief of HSS Spine.
Whether a patient’s condition is relatively minor or highly complex, the Spine Center is designed to deliver the appropriate level of care.
Nonsurgical First, Surgery as a Last Resort
A defining philosophy at HSS is that conservative treatment is always the first line of care. The Spine Center emphasizes therapies that address pain, prevent progression, and restore mobility without the need for invasive procedures. These options may include:
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation programs.
- Pain management techniques, such as epidural injections or nerve blocks.
- Lifestyle guidance and exercise programs tailored to spine health.
If these approaches are not successful, surgery may be considered. But even then, HSS spine surgeons are at the forefront of the most advanced techniques, including robotic-assisted and minimally invasive procedures.
“At HSS, conservative treatment is always the first line of care, while surgery is the last resort,” explained Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, MBA, co-chief of HSS Spine. “A variety of therapies are available to address pain, prevent further damage and help patients regain mobility without the need for surgery. However, if it is needed, HSS spine surgeons are at the forefront of robotic-assisted and minimally invasive procedures that are beneficial for patients.”
Minimally invasive techniques can lead to smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times, making them particularly valuable for patients seeking to return quickly to work and daily activities.
Where Surgeries Are Performed
While the Paramus Spine Center is focused on evaluation, diagnosis, and nonsurgical care, surgeries themselves are performed at two nearby HSS facilities:
- HSS Northern NJ Surgery Center in Mahwah: Equipped for advanced outpatient and same-day procedures.
- HSS Main Hospital in Manhattan: For more complex surgeries requiring hospital-based care.
This integrated setup allows patients to receive the full continuum of care—from consultation and diagnosis in Paramus, to surgery in Mahwah or Manhattan, and then back to Paramus for follow-up and rehabilitation.
Bringing Spine Care Closer to the Community
For patients in Northern New Jersey, the expansion of HSS represents more than just convenience. Many people struggle with chronic back or neck problems but delay seeking care due to travel burdens or uncertainty about where to find trusted specialists. By opening this center, HSS is reducing those barriers and making world-class spine expertise accessible locally.
The presence of HSS also creates opportunities for closer collaboration with primary care physicians and local specialists in the region, helping ensure that patients receive coordinated, comprehensive care without unnecessary delays.
