Akhil Jay Khanna, MD| Spine Surgery | MedStar Health
Akhil Jay Khanna

Akhil Jay Khanna, MD
Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

4.7 out of 5 (336 reviews)

Specialties: Spine Surgery

Languages: Spanish, Hindi, English

202-444-7856

About me

Jay Khanna, MD, is a board-certified, combined neurosurgical and orthopaedic fellowship-trained spine surgeon whose clinical practice is based at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, part of the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute.

In addition to his clinical and academic work, Dr. Khanna serves as Chair and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He is also the Physician Executive Director for MedStar Orthopaedic Institute which has oversight for orthopaedic surgery, spine surgery and musculoskeletal health programs at the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and MedStar St. Mary's Hospital. Through these roles, he collaborates closely with numerous excellent spine and orthopaedic surgeons to provide best-in-class care to his patients and many others in and around the Washington, D.C. region.

Dr. Khanna's clinical interests include the treatment of a wide range of spine pathologies using techniques ranging from minimally invasive spine surgery to complex spinal reconstructions. Many of the patients that he sees are first treated with non-operative measures such as medications, physical therapy and interventional pain management modalities before surgical options are considered.

In addition to the management of patients with typical degenerative conditions of the spine, Dr. Khanna has a special interest and expertise in the treatment of patients who have had prior spine surgery, require revision surgery or treatment at adjacent levels.

Although caring for patients with conditions of the spine is Dr. Khanna's primary interest, he is also actively involved in research and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on topics in spine surgery and is regarded as a leader in the field of spine surgery.

One of Dr. Khanna's greatest interests is education and he is the Co-Director of the annual American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Board Review Course which prepares orthopaedic surgeons during the months before they sit for their board and recertification examinations. He also teaches at and leads many other courses at the national level that seek to teach others both the foundations of and advanced techniques in spine surgery.

Dr. Khanna has received many awards and accolades, one of which is recognition by Becker's Orthopedic and Spine Review as one of the nation's Top 50 spine surgeons and specialists. 

Dr. Khanna is a native of the Washington, D.C. region and obtained his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is a dual-trained spine surgeon with background and expertise in both neurosurgical and orthopaedic spine surgery. Dr. Khanna's orthopedic surgery residency training was completed at Johns Hopkins and his spine surgery fellowship was at the Cleveland Clinic Spine Institute in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery.

Clinical areas of focus

  • Adolescent Scoliosis
  • Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  • Anterior Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Anterior Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Spine Surgery
  • Back Injury
  • Back Surgery
  • Burst Fracture
  • Cervical Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Cervical Myelopathy
  • Cervical Radiculopathy
  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis
  • Cervical Spine Fracture
  • Cervical Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Cervical Spine Injury
  • Cervical Spondylolisthesis
  • Compression Fracture Surgery
  • Degenerative Joint Disease Of The Spine
  • Direct Lateral Approach
  • Disc Surgery
  • Endplate Fracture
  • Foot Drop
  • Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Laminectomy
  • Lumbar Herniated Disc
  • Lumbar Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Lumbar Scoliosis
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Spine Fracture
  • Lumbar Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
  • Malunion Fracture Of The Spine
  • Microdiscectomy
  • Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  • Myelitis/Myelopathy
  • Myelopathy Surgery
  • Navigation Spine Surgery
  • Neck Injury
  • Nerve Compression Of The Cervical Spine
  • Nerve Compression Of The Lumbar Spine
  • Neural Foraminal Stenosis
  • Nonunion Fracture Of The Spine
  • Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy
  • Posterior Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Thoracic Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Thoracic Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Vertebral Column Resection
  • Radiculopathy
  • Smith Petersen Osteotomy
  • Spinal Cyst
  • Spinal Stenosis Surgery
  • Spine Osteotomy
  • Spine Reconstruction
  • Spine Surgery
  • Surgical Treatment Of Myelopathy
  • Thoracic Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Thoracic Spinal Stenosis
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Thoracic Spine Surgery
  • Transpsoas Approach
  • Vertebral Fracture
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Conditions and procedures

Conditions I treat

  • Abnormal Vertebrae
  • Absent Vertebrae
  • Adolescent Scoliosis
  • Adolescent Spine Deformity
  • Adult Degenerative Scoliosis
  • Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Atlantoaxial Rotary Subluxation
  • Back Injury
  • Bulging Disc
  • Burst Fracture
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome
  • Cervical Bone Spur
  • Cervical Compression Fracture
  • Cervical Deformity
  • Cervical Disc Degeneration
  • Cervical Disc Disease
  • Cervical Disc Displacement
  • Cervical Herniated Disc
  • Cervical Myelopathy
  • Cervical Radiculopathy
  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis
  • Cervical Spine Fracture
  • Cervical Spine Injury
  • Cervical Spine Mass
  • Cervical Spine Stress Fracture
  • Cervical Spine Tumor
  • Cervical Spondylolisthesis
  • Cervical Spondylosis
  • Cervicogenic Headache
  • Complex Spine Deformities
  • Compression Fracture
  • Congenital Malformation Of The Spine
  • Congenital Scoliosis
  • Degenerative Joint Disease Of The Lumbar Spine
  • Degenerative Joint Disease Of The Spine
  • Degenerative Joint Disease Of The Thoracic Spine
  • Degenerative Spine Conditions
  • Endplate Fracture
  • Facet Joint Syndrome
  • Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
  • Flatback Syndrome Post Harrington Rods
  • Foot Drag
  • Foot Drop
  • Forestier's Disease
  • Herniated Disc
  • Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis
  • Intraspinal Abscess
  • Junctional Kyphosis
  • Klippel Feil Syndrome
  • Kyphosis
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Lumbar Disc Disease
  • Lumbar Herniated Disc
  • Lumbar Scoliosis
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Spine Fracture
  • Lumbar Spine Injury
  • Lumbar Spine Stress Fracture
  • Lumbar Spine Tumor
  • Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
  • Lumbar Spondylosis
  • Lumbosacral Radiculopathy
  • Malunion Fracture Of The Spine
  • Meningioma Of The Spine
  • Myelitis/Myelopathy
  • Myelopathy
  • Neck Arthritis
  • Neck Injury
  • Nerve Compression Of The Cervical Spine
  • Nerve Compression Of The Lumbar Spine
  • Nerve Compression Of The Thoracic Spine
  • Neural Foraminal Stenosis
  • Neurogenic Claudication
  • Nonunion Fracture Of The Spine
  • Odontoid Fractures
  • Post Laminectomy Kyphosis
  • Post Laminectomy Syndrome
  • Radiculopathy
  • Ruptured Intervertebral Disc
  • Scheuermann's Disease
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Severe Kyphotic Deformities
  • Spinal Abscess
  • Spinal Cord Compression
  • Spinal Cyst
  • Spinal Disorders
  • Spinal Schwannoma
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Arthritis
  • Spine Deformities
  • Spine Deformity
  • Spine Fracture
  • Spine Injury
  • Spine Mass
  • Spine Osteoarthritis
  • Spine Tumor
  • Spondyloarthropathy
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Spondylosis
  • Spondylosis With Myelopathy
  • Sports Related Cervical Spine Injury
  • Synovial Cyst
  • Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome
  • Thoracic Herniated Disc
  • Thoracic Spinal Stenosis
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture
  • Thoracic Spine Injury
  • Thoracic Spine Tumor
  • Thoracic Spondylolisthesis
  • Vertebral Fracture
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Procedures I perform

  • Adult Deformity Surgery
  • Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  • Anterior Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Anterior Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Spine Surgery
  • Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Cervical Spine
  • Back Surgery
  • Cervical Decompression
  • Cervical Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Cervical Laminoplasty
  • Cervical Laminotomy
  • Cervical Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Cervical Spine Revision
  • Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Complex Spine Surgery
  • Compression Fracture Surgery
  • Craniocervical Junction Surgery
  • Decompression Laminectomy
  • Direct Lateral Approach
  • Disc Arthroplasty
  • Disc Replacement
  • Disc Surgery
  • Diskectomy
  • Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
  • Foraminotomy
  • Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Instrumented Anterior Cervical Discectomy, Fusion (ACDF)
  • Kyphoplasty
  • Laminectomy
  • Laminoplasty
  • Laser Spine Surgery
  • Lateral Access Spine Surgery
  • Low Back Surgery
  • Lumbar Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Lumbar Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Microdiscectomy
  • Microsurgery Of The Cervical Spine
  • Microsurgery Of The Lumbar Spine
  • Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy
  • Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  • Myelopathy Surgery
  • Navigation Spine Surgery
  • Non Invasive Scoliosis Treatment
  • Occipito Cervical Fusion
  • Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy
  • Posterior Cervical Laminectomy And Fusion
  • Posterior Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Lumbar Laminectomy
  • Posterior Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Thoracic Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Thoracic Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Vertebral Column Resection
  • Prone Transpsoas (PTP) Technique
  • Repair Of Failed Fusions
  • Robotic Spine Surgery
  • Scoliosis Surgery
  • Smith Petersen Osteotomy
  • Spinal Abscess Surgery
  • Spinal Compression Fusion
  • Spinal Cord Surgery
  • Spinal Cyst Removal
  • Spinal Fixation
  • Spinal Stenosis Surgery
  • Spine Deformity Correction Surgery
  • Spine Fusion
  • Spine Microsurgery
  • Spine Osteotomy
  • Spine Reconstruction
  • Spine Revision
  • Spine Surgery
  • Spondylolisthesis Surgery
  • Spondylosis Surgery
  • Spondylosyndesis
  • Surgery For Sciatica
  • Surgical Treatment Of Myelopathy
  • Thoracic Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Thoracic Laminectomy
  • Thoracic Spine Epidural Steroid Injection
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Thoracic Spine Fusion
  • Thoracic Spine Surgery
  • Three Column Osteotomy
  • Transpsoas Approach
  • Transthoracic Discectomy
  • Tubular Discectomy
  • Vertebrae Surgery
  • Vertebral Column Resection
  • Vertebroplasty
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Practice locations

Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location

3800 Reservoir Road Northwest
G-PHC
Washington, DC, 20007

202-444-8766

Fax 202-444-7856

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 202-444-7856

5454 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 1100
Chevy Chase, MD, 20815

202-444-8766

Fax 202-444-7804

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miles away

Fax 202-444-7804

1420 Beverly Road
Suite 210
McLean, VA, 22101

202-444-8766

Fax 202-444-7804

Get Directions

miles away

Fax 202-444-7804

Insurance

MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.

  • List of insurance plans we accept
    • Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
    • Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
    • Innovation Health: Open POS II
    • Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
    • Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II
    • Innovation Health: POS Plus
    • Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
    • Innovation Health: POS
    • Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus
    • Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA
    • Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
    • Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus
    • Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
    • Aetna HMO
    • Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
    • Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
    • Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
    • Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
    • Cigna Preferred Medicare
    • Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO) |
    • Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
    • Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN)
    • United Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
    • United Student Resources
    • United Select Plus (POS)
    • United Select HMO - EPO/NPP
    • United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)
    • United Golden Rule
    • United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose
    • D-SNP)
    • I-SNP
    • United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP
    • United Erickson Advantage Plans
    • United Choice Plus
    • United Choice
    • United Mamsi Life & Health
    • MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
    • MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
    • United MD IPA Preferred (POS)
    • United MD IPA (HMO)
    • Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Signature
    • Kaiser HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
    • Kaiser Select-Added Choice
    • Kaiser Select
    • Kaiser Medicare Plus
    • Kaiser Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
    • Kaiser Flexible Choice
    • Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
    • HumanaChoice PPO
    • HumanaChoice Honor’s plan PPO
    • Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)
    • Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
    • Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
    • Cigna POS/Network POS
    • Cigna Indemnity
    • Cigna POS Open Access & Open Access Plus
    • Cigna Network Open Access
    • Cigna HMO Open Access
    • Cigna PPO and PPO Plus
    • Cigna EPO
    • Cigna Choice Fund PPO
    • Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
    • Beech Street PPO
    • Anthem Plus BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
    • Anthem (POS & Open Access POS) BCBS of VA HealthKeepers
    • Anthem HMO - BCBS of VA HealthKeepers
    • Innovation Health: Indemnity
    • Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
    • Aetna Student Health Insurance
    • Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
    • Innovation Health: PPO
    • Cigna HMO & Network (HMO)
    • WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
    • WellPoint Maryland
    • Virginia Premier
    • Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
    • UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
    • United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
    • Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
    • Police and Fire Clinic
    • United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
    • United Optimum Choice
    • United Navigate
    • United Core Essential (HMO)
    • United Group Medicare Advantage Plans
    • United AARP Medicare Complete
    • Traditional Medicare Fee for Service
    • Medicaid - Virginia
    • Medicaid - Maryland
    • Medicaid - District of Columbia
    • Tricare for Life East
    • Tricare Reserve Select
    • Tricare East Select
    • Tricare East Prime
    • Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
    • HealthyBlue PPO
    • Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
    • CareFirst NASCO
    • CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
    • CareFirst MedStar PPO
    • CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
    • CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
    • CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
    • CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced
    • CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)
    • CareFirst Administrators
    • CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
    • Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Opt Out Open Access
    • Carefirst BlueChoice Open Access
    • Carefirst BlueChoice HMO
    • Carefirst EPO
    • Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO
    • MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
    • Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
    • First Health PPO
    • Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
    • Coventry Health Care of Virginia
    • Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA

Videos

Education

Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery

Graduate Education: Johns Hopkins University (2008)

Fellowship Program: Cleveland Clinic Hospital (2004)

Residency Program: Johns Hopkins Hospital (2003)

Residency Program: Johns Hopkins Hospital (1998)

Internship Program: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (1996)

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine (1995)

Awards

  • Named in 50 of the Best Spine Specialists in America, Becker’s Orthopaedic and Spine Review
  • 2015 - 2021  Top Doctor Award, Washingtonian Magazine

Ratings and reviews

  • Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition

    4.7
  • Extent to which the care provider listened to you

    4.7
  • Care provider’s discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

    4.6
  • Provider included you in decisions

    4.7
  • Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

    4.7
  • Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

    4.7
  • Sep 18, 2024

    Dr. Khanna was very responsive to my concerns - he ordered appropriate tests & treatments.

  • Sep 12, 2024

    Dr. Khanna is not only an outstanding and skilled surgeon but he also has a wonderful and caring team

  • Aug 23, 2024

    Nice guy. Good listener. No attitude. Many specialists are the exact opposite of this.