Spine Surgeon in King of Prussia
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Steven Valentino, D.O.
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Fellowship-trained in Spine Surgery
Dr. Steven Valentino is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in spine, which is the highest level of medical education possible in the United States.
The difference between a M.D. degree (Medical Doctor) and D.O. Degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) is that osteopathic doctors have additional training in the structure of the musculoskeletal system, including how movement or manipulation can in some cases relieve pain symptoms. Both M.D.s and D.O.s can prescribe medicine, and orthopedic surgeon M.D.s and D.O.s perform the same surgeries. Fellowship-training related to spine surgery is typically identical between both MD and DO degrees.
Dr. Valentino has practiced orthopedic surgery specializing in spine in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region for more than 25 years. Over that period, he has performed more than 5,000 successful spine surgeries. He was one of the first surgeons in the Philadelphia / South Jersey region to be trained in minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement surgery.
Dr. Valentino completed his year-long spine fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania – Presbyterian in Philadelphia. Before that, he completed a residency in orthopedic surgery where he was named “Chief Resident.” During his hospital internship, he was named the “Intern of the Year.”
His Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree was received in 1982 from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a graduate of LaSalle College and Bishop Neumann High School, both in Philadelphia.
In addition to being a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Valentino is also Board-Certified by the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, and Board-Certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners. He is trained to perform Independent Medical Examinations and to provide Impairment Ratings related to on-the-job injury.
He has written dozens of professional papers and presentations for publication on the subjects of back and neck pain; back injury in the workplace; back injury in sports; non-surgical spine care options and spine surgery.
He is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
He is on the medical staff at the following hospitals:
- MainLine Health
- Bryn Mawr Hospital
- Lankneau Hospital
- Mercy Suburban Hospital
- Kennedy Hospital in Washington Township, NJ
Back Pain FAQs
Dr. Steven Valentino receives many question each day from back pain patients. Here are some of the most common questions about back pain.

Comprehensive Spine Care
With offices in King of Prussia, PA and Sewell, NJ, the spine and orthopedic practice of Dr. Steven Valentino is a resource for patients, employers and case managers in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region.
At some point in their lives, 80% of Americans will have an attack of back pain or neck pain. Worse, once you have your first back pain attack, you are four times more likely to have a recurrence. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that in the vast majority of cases, back pain or neck pain symptoms will go away on their own in a week or so. Other times, when the pain symptoms persist for longer than a week, most of these cases will also improve with some customized stretches that restore movement to inflamed ligaments and muscles, anti-inflammatories or spinal injections that relieve pain long enough to get moving again.
The root issue, however, is that for common acute back pain symptoms that do not involve nerve damage (numbness, weakness or pain in an arm or leg) physicians don’t know for sure which patients will respond to non-surgical treatment options, and which problems require more “invasive” treatment, such as spine surgery. Consequently, the best spine care exhausts non-surgical treatment options for back and neck pain before spine surgery is considered.
With back and neck pain so widespread, often those with back pain symptoms end up making a pilgrimage to multiple locations, from a chiropractor office, to their family practice physician, to then a referral to a spine specialist for an MRI and other diagnostics. For the person with an aching back, the journey to multiple locations to suffer through a variety of conflicting opinions and treatment plans can be a major headache on top of a backache.
Thankfully, for those in Philadelphia and South Jersey, we are positioned to help.
Liberty Spine Care includes the expertise of a fellowship-trained spine surgeon, along with affiliated non-surgical spine MDs, experienced in spine and on-the-job injury, and affiliated spine-specialized physical therapists.
A non-surgical approach to back and neck pain
What makes Liberty Spine Care unique is its emphasis on non-surgical treatment options for back and neck problems. Additionally, Liberty Spine Care also recognizes the role played by chiropractors in providing patients another nonsurgical treatment option before surgery is considered.
The Liberty Spine Care caring physician and staff have successfully helped many patients return to an active lifestyle with conservative care options. Dr. Valentino excels in designing patient specific treatment options. Surgery is recommended as a last resort when non surgical options have failed to resolve symptoms.
Unfortunately, there can be a lack of coordination among the different specialists treating back and neck conditions. Sadly, health insurance medical directors often complain that a single back pain patient can see 10 different doctors and receive 10 different diagnoses and 10 different treatment recommendations.
Because these spine specialists are often spread across towns or regions, there is typically no communication between them about a specific patient. This means that a patient will often travel from doctors office to doctors office, having to start from scratch with his or her story to build a new medical chart from scratch.
Thirdly, because non-surgical treatment options are poorly designed, it predestines the patient to failure of conservative non-surgical care. And when non-surgical options fail, this forces the patient to resort to surgery, in many cases, unnecessarily. An unnecessary spine surgery can unfortunately just create a bigger nightmare for the person, as scarring around a nerve root from surgery can create “failed back surgery syndrome” which is worse than any original pain symptom.
Liberty Spine Care emphasizes nonsurgical treatment options like spinal injections that can relieve the symptoms of a herniated or bulging disc. Through the use of an epidural steroid injection, the spine specialist is able to reduce inflammation around a nerve root. This in turn can relieve the symptoms of radiating pain into a leg or arm, or deficit (weakness or numbness in a hand or foot).
Because Liberty Spine Care develops comprehensive treatment plans for each patient, this helps prevent redundancy or duplication of effort.
Dr. Steven Valentino works closely with outside specialists in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, pain management anesthesiologists and spine specialist therapists who also provide complementary and multi-disciplinary treatment options for patients. The physicians involved communicate and blend their expertise for the benefit of the patient. As a result, these spine specialists are often able to help many patients resolve their back or neck pain symptoms without the need for spine surgery.
When spine surgery is necessary
When all nonsurgical treatment options fail to provide relief of symptoms, we emphasize minimally invasive spine surgery which shortens the incision, reduces time in the hospital, lessens pain during rehab, and speeds the return to activity and one’s work. Dr. Valentino prefers to use a minimally invasive surgery technique when it is appropriate for the patient — for the benefit of the patient.
Sometimes, spine surgery is the right treatment. This may occur because symptoms of radiating pain have not responded to non-surgical treatment options like injection therapy or customized spine physical therapy. In other cases, some symptoms like weakness or numbness in a leg or hand, or loss of control of bowel or bladder, represent emergency symptoms where back or neck surgery must be done quickly to prevent permanent paralysis of the nerves that relate to these muscles or extremities.
If your back or neck problem requires surgery, Liberty Spine Care includes a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who is already referred complex surgical cases from across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
These spine surgery cases can include herniated discs, spinal fractures, degenerative disc disease, facet joint problems and other complex spine problems.
Pain relief through a focus on function
Pain is a signal from the body to the brain that something is wrong. Either the back is too weak, too inflexible, something lifted was too heavy or the wrong body mechanics were used. And, unfortunately, those doctors who focus exclusively on pain symptoms often recommend a course of treatment that is the exact opposite of what the individual needs to recover from the back problem.
Years ago, for example, doctors treated back pain with bed rest and heavy drugs to mask the discomfort. It was found, however, that this type of treatment was actually damaging to the back, because it caused muscles in the back to get weaker, in turn, causing more strain and pain. Patients became more dependent on drugs and grew more inactive and disabled.
In fact, pain relief actually can come through movement. Low-impact sports like walking and swimming are the best way to make the back feel better and stronger. Liberty Spine Care uses written clinical protocols to improve care and reduce treatment variation — the essence of true quality management. This enables us to make sure the right thing is done at the right time, every time. This also makes sure that every nonsurgical option has been explored — such as therapy and injections — before spine surgery is considered.
While others talk about quality, we measure outcomes with patient severity data at intake and functional status post treatment. Lastly, we audit patient satisfaction so we can continually improve, because that’s what quality is all about.
Testimonials

I saw Dr. Valentino for some neck pain. He was very thorough in our initial meeting, and recommended an epidural injection. I was scheduled within 2 weeks and his staff was very helpful with managing the timing of my procedure. Dr. Valentino’s bedside manner is exactly what a patient needs: reassuring and considerate. I would happily recommend Dr. Valentino.

Definitely would recommend Dr. Valentino. Explained the condition in detail. Required all testing prior to recommending the best course of action to proceed. After having all test results he advised the best course of action to take. Made me feel very confident about his ability to correct my condition.

Amazing Doctor. I have recommended him to many. He is the best Ortho around. I will never go to anyone else. Great bedside manner.

Dr. Valentino was the first doctor to take the time and effort to seek out the cause of my problem instead of masking it with an injection. Thanks to Dr. Valentino’s care and concern for me, I now live pain free without injections.

Dr Valentino is a very kind and compassionate Doctor.His office is well run, cutting edge and very professional. The staff were always very sympathetic and lifted my spirits every time I went there… Would highly recommend Dr Valentino to anyone seeking a knowledgeable orthopedic surgeon.
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ADDRESS
King of Prussia
Merion Building, Suite 110
700 S Henderson Rd
King of Prussia, PA 19406Sewell
556 Egg Harbor Rd
RFB Surgical Plus, Suite A
Sewell, NJ 08080
PHONE
(610) 265-5795
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Dr. Steven J. Valentino specializes in the treatment of back and neck pain in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area. Dr. Valentino is fellowship-trained in spine — the highest level of medical training in the U.S.