About me
Joseph L. Ferguson, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Ferguson specializes in state-of-the-art, minimally invasive and motion preservation techniques to treat conditions of the bones, discs, and nerves of the neck and back.
With advanced expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Ferguson performs a wide range of procedures in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine designed to relieve pain, restore mobility, and help patients return to an active lifestyle. His surgical expertise includes transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), anterior lumbar fusion (ALIF), extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF), and lumbar fusion techniques tailored to each patient’s unique condition.
He also specializes in surgical disc replacement, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), posterior cervical laminoplasty, and lumbar laminectomy, offering both traditional and motion-preserving approaches depending on the clinical needs of each case. Dr. Ferguson frequently treats patients with complex degenerative spine disorders and employs innovative strategies to manage spinal instability, deformity, and nerve compression.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Ferguson is committed to advancing the field of degenerative spine surgery through research, education, and the integration of the latest technologies. His expertise in thoracic fusion and minimally invasive techniques allows him to achieve optimal outcomes with reduced recovery times and improved patient satisfaction.
Philosophy of care
Dr. Ferguson believes each patient is unique and requires an individualized, focused, and thorough approach to address the diagnosis. He approaches each patient-physician relationship as a partnership, with the best outcomes resulting from a collaborative effort. His goal is to help patients and their families understand their conditions and to educate them on all possible options, in order to restore function and relieve pain for a return to an active lifestyle.
He specializes in
- Cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (lower-back) pathologies
- Minimally invasive techniques
- Lumbar stenosis
- Lumbar degenerative spine disorders
- Cervical Stenosis
- Cervical herniated disks
- Neck and/or arm pain or weakness
- Leg pain and weakness
- Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy
- Scoliosis (adult)
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Scoliosis
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spinal Stenosis
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Biomechanical Lesions
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Bone Disorders In Diseases
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Instability
- Coccydynia
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Head Injury
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lordosis
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Meningitis
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Sacral Spine Herniation
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylopathies
- Thigh Fracture
- Thoracic Spine Herniation
- Thoracic Spine Instability
- Thumb Synovitis
Procedures I perform
- Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Bulging Disc Treatment
- Cauda Equina Syndrome Treatment
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Degenerative Spine Surgery
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Ganglion Cyst Excision
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Laminotomy
- Lumbar Fusion
- Lumbar Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Posterior Cervical Laminectomy
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment
- Spinal Deformity Correction In Adolescents
- Spinal Deformity Correction With Intraoperative Ct
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Dural Fistula Treatment
- Spinal Facet Joint Pain Treatment
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Hematoma Treatment
- Spinal Infection Treatment
- Spinal Injury Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Fusion
- Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
1120 20th St NW
Bldg 1 S A Level
Washington, DC, 20036
5454 Wisconsin Ave
Ste 1100
Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
3800 Reservoir Rd NW
1 Gorman
Washington, DC, 20007
Insurance
This list represents the major payors accepted by MedStar Health. NOTE: Payor contracts change and not all plans associated with a payor may be covered. Payors may offer multiple plans. If you have a question related to your insurance, please contact your insurance plan directly. Contact information is located on your health insurance ID card. *Denotes limited participation. Specific providers and practices may NOT be participating. Please contact your insurance plan directly.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Aetna
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland
- Cigna Health Care
- Kaiser Permanente*
- MedStar Select (Administered by CareFirst)
- United HealthCare
- Aetna
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland
- Healthspring
- Humana
- Medicare & Railroad Medicare
- United HealthCare
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland *
- Medical Assistance/Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice MD
- Priority Partners *
- United HealthCare Community Health Plan MD
- Wellpoint MD
- AmeriHealth Caritas
- Health Services For Children With Special Needs (HSCSN)
- Medical Assistance/Medicaid
- MedStar Family Choice DC
- Johns Hopkins Employer Health Programs *
- Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan *
- MultiPlan
- Private Healthcare Systems
- Tricare/Humana Military
- VA Community Care Network (VACCN)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthpedic Surgery
Fellowship: Atrium Health Union West (2019)
Fellowship: Rush University Medical Center (2019)
Residency: Medstar Health (2018)
Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2018)
Medical School: Jefferson Medical College (2013)
Graduate: Drexel University (2007)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Basques, BA, Ferguson JF, Kunze KN, Phillips, FP. Lumbar Spinal Fusion in the Outpatient Setting: An Update on Management, Surgical Approaches and Planning. Journal of Spine Surgery (accepted, pending publication).
- Louie PK, Haws BE, Khan JM, Markowitz J, Movassaghi K, Ferguson J, Lopez GD, An HS, Phillips FM. Comparison of Stand-alone Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion versus Open Laminectomy and Posterolateral Instrumented Fusion in the Treatment of Adjacent Segment Disease following Previous Lumbar Fusion Surgery. Spine. Aug 12, 2019 (ePub ahead of print).
- Ferguson J, Mariorenzi M, Kalantar SB. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion for a single-level disc herniation. Seminars in Spine Surgery. 2014; 26(3): 154-9.
- Ferguson J, Hwang S, Tataryn Z, Samdani A. Neuromonitoring changes in pediatric spinal deformity surgery: a single-institution experience. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics. 2014; 13(3): 247-54.
- Radcliff K, Ferguson JL, Reis-Rodrigues LM, Gruskay J, Levine AM, Albert T, Vaccaro AR. Chapter 24: Traumatic Spondylolisthesis of the Axis (Hangman's Fracture) in Spine Trauma, 2nd edition. Eds: Zigler JE, Eismont FJ, Garfin SR, Vaccaro AR, from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2011.
- Samdani AF, Cahill PJ, Hwang SW, King J, Edwards A, Fine A, Ferguson J, Betz RR: Larger curve magnitude is associated with markedly increased perioperative complications after scoliosis surgery in patients with spinal cord injury. 18th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (podium), Copenhagen, Denmark, July 13-16, 2011.
- Zlotolow DA, Ferguson JL, Knutsen E, Kozin SH. The Natural History of Shoulder Function in Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy. NARAKAS meeting, May 19-22, 2011, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Ferguson JL, Zlotolow DA, Kozin SH. Timing of Recovery of Shoulder Function in Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy.
- Poster, AOA Research Symposium, Thomas Jefferson University, March 2nd, 2012
- E-Poster, Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, September 6-8, 2012, Chicago, IL.
- Ferguson JL, Hwang SW, Stanton P, Fine A, Samdani AF. Neuromonitoring Changes in Pediatric Spinal Deformity Surgery: Single Institution Experience. New England Neurosurgical Society annual meeting, June 21-23, 2012.