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
- Abdomen, Lower Back, Pelvis, And Genital Injury
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Artificial Disc Replacement
- Benign Neoplasm Of Bone And Articular Cartilage
- Biomechanical Lesions
- Bone Density Disorder
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bone Disorders
- Brain Disorders
- Bursopathy
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cervical Fracture
- Cervical Herniated Disc
- Cervicothoracic Junction Disorders
- Coccydynia
- 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
- Deforming Dorsopathies
- Dorsalgia
- Dorsopathies
- 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
- Inflammatory Spondylopathies
- Intervertebral Disc Disorders
- Intraspinal Granuloma
- Joint Disorder
- 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
- Meningitis
- Mononeuropathy Of Lower Limb
- Muscle Disorders
- 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
- Presence Of Functional Implants
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Sacral Spine Fracture
- Scoliosis
- Shoulder Burns
- Skull Base Tumor
- Skull Fractures
- Spina Bifida
- 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
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
106 Irving St NW
POB Ste 5000
Washington, DC, 20010
12158 Central Ave
Mitchellville, MD, 20721
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
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- TRICARE East Prime
- TRICARE for Life East
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Medicare FFS
- Network OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Navigate
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Healthcare Choice
- United Student Resources
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst NASCO
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- CIGNA PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- OA Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Choice Fund PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UHC Passport
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Optimum Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CareFirst Administrators
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-Open POS II
- Choice POS
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open HMO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Core Essential (HMO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- POS OA
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-EPO Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- IH-PPO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst EPO
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- HighMark
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: University of California San Diego (2016)
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?