About me
Oliver Tannous, MD, is an orthopaedic spine surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. As a spine specialist, he utilizes state-of-the-art, minimally invasive and motion preservation techniques to treat conditions of the bones, discs, and nerves of the neck and back.
His clinical focus includes disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, ranging from isolated disc herniation to complex deformities and failed surgeries. His research interests include optimizing patient outcomes after surgery and improving techniques for eliminating postoperative spinal infections.
Dr. Tannous completed his undergraduate studies in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University. He then received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery. Prior to joining MedStar Health, he completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of California San Diego, a leading center for minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. His early interests in mechanics and how things are built, coupled with a degree in neuroscience, fueled his decision to become an orthopaedic spine specialist.
Dr. Tannous takes a conservative approach to spine care. He emphasizes the use of non-operative treatments before considering surgery. When surgery becomes necessary, he utilizes minimally invasive techniques in order to reduce the impact of surgery. He has extensive experience in revision spine procedures as well as correcting previously failed spine surgeries.
Philosophy of Care
"Becoming involved in the care of someone's health is a privilege. I treat all of my patients in the same way that I would treat my family members - with compassion and respect. When nonoperative methods fail and surgery becomes necessary, I spend a lot of time with my patients, ensuring that they fully understand the surgical process. I follow them very closely while they are in the hospital, and guide them throughout the recovery process so they can get back to a healthier life as soon as possible. I feel proud when my patients tell me that they would recommend me to their family members for care."
Patient Story:
Clinical areas of focus
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylosis
- Thigh Fracture
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Mri
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Artificial Disc Replacement
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Fracture
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervicothoracic Junction Disorders
- Chest Injury
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Congenital Malformations Of Heart
- Congenital Malformations Of Musculoskeletal System
- Congenital Malformations Of Nervous System
- Congenital Malformations Of Spinal Cord
- Congenital Malformations Of Spine And Bony Thorax
- Congenital Musculoskeletal Deformities
- Epidural Hematoma
- Failed Back Syndrome
- Fractures Of The Neck
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Herniated Disc In Lower Back
- Herniated Disc In Neck
- Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Kyphosis
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lumbar Disc Disease
- Lumbar Myelopathy
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Lumbar Spondylosis
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Meninges
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Spinal Cord
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Musculoskeletal System Complications
- Neck Nerve And Spinal Cord Injury
- Neck Sprain
- Neoplasm Of Uncertain Behavior
- Nerve Root Disorders
- Nervous And Musculoskeletal Symptoms
- Nervous System Disorders
- Paralytic Syndrome
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Skull Fractures
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Spinal Cord Diseases
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Curvature
- Spinal Cyst
- Spinal Disc Herniation
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Osteochondrosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spine Deformity
- Spine Osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylopathies
- Spondylosis
- Spondylosis Of The Cervical Spine
- Thigh Fracture
- Thoracic Spine Instability
- Thumb Synovitis
- Vertebral Compression Fracture
- Vertebral Fractures
Procedures I perform
- Cervical Corpectomy
- Cervical Facet Joint Denervation
- Cervical Laminectomy
- Cervical Myelopathy Surgery
- Cervical Vertebra Reposition
- Discectomy
- Endoscopic Spinal Procedures
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion
- Fibula Osteotomy
- Flap Surgery
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Laminectomy And Fusion
- Median Nerve Decompression
- Microdiscectomy
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Ostectomy
- Osteotomy
- Pedicle Screw Fixation
- Percutaneous Discectomy
- Percutaneous Kyphoplasty
- Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Deformity Correction
- Spinal Cord Tumor Treatment
- Spinal Disc Replacement
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Infection Treatment
- Spinal Instability Treatment
- Spinal Reconstruction Surgery
- Spinal Spondylolysis Treatment
- Spondylolysis Treatment
- Thoracic Spine Surgery
- Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment
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.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Administrators
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice POS II Open Access
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Medicare Direct
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- HighMark
- OA Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Classic 5000
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Choice Fund PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- Beech Street PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Navigate
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- POS OA
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- IH-POS
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- IH-HMO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Medicare FFS
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United Student Resources
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Choice POS
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Choice
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- BlueChoice Open Access
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- First Health PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA EPO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Network OA
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Indemnity
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center (2015)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2015)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Cervical Disc Replacement: A Life Changer for Detective
- Neck Surgery Patient Praises New Procedure
- Podcast - Neck and Back Pain Basics: What You Need to Know
- Case Study - Alternative to Cervical Fusion: 2-Level Cervical Disc Replacement for Cervical Radiculopathy
- Blog - Keep moving to avoid and relieve back pain
- Blog - Neck surgery with shorter recovery, better range of motion
- Blog - Why does back pain persist after surgery?