Welcome New Member Steven M. Presciutti, MD, FAAOS

Dr. Steven Presciutti is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon. He attended Lafayette College where he received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry. He then received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 2009. Dr. Presciutti then completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Connecticut prior to completing his spine surgery fellowship in 2015 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL, one of the top spine fellowships in the country. During his fellowship, he received specialized training in performing minimally invasive spine surgery techniques.

Dr. Presciutti is also an accomplished researcher. He maintained his own research laboratory at Emory University in Atlanta, GA for six years prior to joining Keystone Spine in August of 2021. While at Emory, he received multiple federally funded research grants pertaining to studies of the spine. Dr. Presciutti has published more than three dozen peer-reviewed articles, as well as more than a dozen book chapters. He has been invited to present his research at multiple national and international conferences and has also won multiple awards from the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS), the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), and the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS). He has also been accepted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS).

Dr. Presciutti specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery techniques, which typically allows patients to enjoy less pain and a quicker recovery compared to more traditional, open surgical techniques. He maintains active surgical privileges at The Surgical Institute of Reading and Penn State/St. Joseph’s. Dr. Presciutti has been in practice since 2015. He was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania and decided in 2021 to move back to Pennsylvania to be closer to his family.

The Berks County Medical Society is proud to count Dr. Presciutti among its members and thanks him for supporting the important work the society does. Our community is fortunate to have access to the expert care he provides. To get to know Dr. Presciutti a little better, we asked him to respond to a few questions:

Describe the focus of your practice and any areas of special interest/ expertise.

I focus on adult spinal degenerative conditions with a special focus on minimally invasive techniques. Tubular retractors allow access to the spine while sparing surrounding tissues, tendons, ligaments, and muscles that would otherwise be disrupted with traditional surgery. This type of minimally invasive approach therefore maintains spinal stability after surgery, and in some certain circumstances, can also save a patient from needing a fusion in the first place. The main benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery include reduced tissue and muscle damage, as well as less blood loss. Compared to traditional open surgery, the benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery include: reduced risk of infection, less post-operative pain, less rehabilitation requirements, faster recovery, reduced reliance on pain medication, and significantly shorter hospital

stays. Although minimally invasive spine surgery has many advantages for patients, there are some back and neck conditions that cannot yet be treated through this approach. Working closely with my patients, we find the best solution to treat their spinal problem.

Why did you decide to practice medicine in Berks County?

After practicing at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia for 6 years, my wife and I wanted to move back closer to our families, as we were both born in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

What do you like best about practicing medicine?

I particularly enjoy getting to know my patients and the reward of seeing them get back to life after suffering from a painful spinal problem. I view every patient as an individual and I aim to get to know them so that I can understand their story. That helps me tailor a custom treatment plan to meet the patient’s specific goals and lifestyle.

Please tell us a little about your family and the activities you enjoy outside of work.

When I’m not working, I am an avid outdoorsman – skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and paddle boarding to name a few. I am also an adventurous cook who enjoys experimenting with new recipes, grilling, and smoking. Most importantly, I am blessed with a great and supportive family – my wife, Maura, and three amazing kids.