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Home > MA Providers > Spine Surgeons

Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD

(209 Ratings)

Specializes in: Spine Surgery and Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery

Drexel University College of Medicine

Professional interests include: scoliosis, kyphosis, cervical myelopathy, and more.

55 Fruit St Yawkey Building 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02114

(617) 724-8636

Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD is a spine surgeon in Boston, MA specializing in spine surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. He graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD is affiliated with Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL PHYSICIANS ORGANIZATION INC.

Office Locations

Address:

55 Fruit St Yawkey Building 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02114

Some issues Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD can help you with:

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure to permanently join together two or more vertebrae, the bones in the spine. Certain spinal disorders can lead to instability and pain, and the idea behind spinal fusion is that fusing vertebrae together can both make them stronger and reduce motion, which can sometimes reduce pain.

There are several different types of spinal fusion surgery available, mostly depending on where a patient's pain is located and whether his or her surgeon will perform the procedure through the back, front, or side. In general, a fusion is performed by packing the vertebrae to be fused with grafted bone. This bone may be taken from the patient's hip, may be donated from a cadaver, or it may be a manufactured synthetic material. The bone is placed along the vertebrae, and sometimes, the disc that lies in between the vertebrae is removed and replaced with grafted bone. The bone material will grow and cement the two vertebrae together. After the bone graft is placed, the vertebrae are sometimes held in place with rods, screws, plates, or cages, depending on the weakness of the spine and needs of the graft.

Spinal fusion is a significant surgery and can take three to four hours or more. Recovery is typically two to four days in the hospital. After surgery, it is important to remember that the fusion takes time to grow from the bone graft. So, the actual fusion is not complete for several months. Patients will probably feel somewhat better right away, but it may take a while to feel the full effects of the fusion as the bone grows into place. In the meantime, doctors might have patients wear a brace to protect their spine and keep it properly aligned.

Spinal fusion is not used for all kinds of back pain. Changing the way the spine moves can lead to strain on the other joints in the back, and fusion is only performed when the benefits outweigh the risks. Some spine disorders that are treated with fusion include:

Curvature disorders, such as scoliosis and kyphosis
Degenerative disc disease
Spondylolisthesis, a disorder that causes vertebrae to slip over each other
Significant spinal fractures that cause instability
Weakened spine due to infection or tumor
Some cases of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column
Chronic lower back pain (although the use of fusion to treat this is controversial)

Regardless of the diagnosis, there is always a possibility of 'failure' with spinal fusion, or of the surgery not fully solving the pain. This is more likely when fusion is used primarily to treat pain instead of structural problems. Patients can improve their chances of a successful outcome by stopping smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, moving their body every day, and following their doctor's instructions for any physical therapy that they are prescribed.

decompression surgery	10
diagnostic evaluation	14
doctor visit	283
lab tests	145
nerve procedures	10
rehabilitation	341
spinal procedures	162
X-rays	149

**Gender**
Male	84
Female	103

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	167
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	71
From 75 to 84	62
85 and over	21
Less than 65	33

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	48
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	21
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	33
Dementia	7
Cancer	8

decompression surgery	18
diagnostic evaluation	13
doctor visit	290
lab tests	359
nerve procedures	18
rehabilitation	142
spinal procedures	180
X-rays	152

**Gender**
Male	88
Female	93

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	168
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	73
From 75 to 84	54
85 and over	25
Less than 65	29

Hypertension	66
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	44
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	23
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	25
Dementia	11
Cancer	14

decompression surgery	21
doctor visit	472
lab tests	2552
nerve procedures	21
rehabilitation	246
spinal procedures	315
X-rays	284

**Gender**
Male	242
Female	266

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	452
Black	22
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	240
From 75 to 84	146
85 and over	50
Less than 65	72

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	21
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	26
Dementia	7
Cancer	9

decompression surgery	8
doctor visit	322
lab tests	28
nerve procedures	8
spinal procedures	164
X-rays	164

**Gender**
Male	100
Female	130

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	203
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	89
From 75 to 84	81
85 and over	29
Less than 65	31

Hypertension	69
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	25
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	30
Dementia	11
Cancer	11

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	10
decompression surgery	19
doctor visit	156
nerve procedures	19
spinal procedures	20

**Gender**
Male	54
Female	75

**Age**
From 65 to 74	66
From 75 to 84	39
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	43
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	21
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	27
Dementia	15
Cancer	14

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	8
decompression surgery	52
doctor visit	279
neck surgery	29
nerve procedures	52
spinal procedures	79

**Gender**
Male	102
Female	137

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	214
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	103
From 75 to 84	81
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	46
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	23
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	24
Dementia	17
Cancer	9

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	35
bone surgery	31
decompression surgery	28
doctor visit	160
neck surgery	9
nerve procedures	28
spinal procedures	129

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	96

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	166
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	79
From 75 to 84	56
85 and over	18
Less than 65	26

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	43
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	26
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	25
Dementia	12
Cancer	13

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	32
bone surgery	33
decompression surgery	33
doctor visit	114
joint surgery	10
neck surgery	13
nerve procedures	33
open surgery	10
pelvic surgery	10
spinal procedures	107

**Gender**
Male	72
Female	70

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	123
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	60
From 75 to 84	56
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	23
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	23
Dementia	15
Cancer	12

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	75
bone surgery	63
decompression surgery	56
doctor visit	301
joint surgery	16
neck surgery	25
nerve procedures	56
open surgery	16
pelvic surgery	16
spinal procedures	215

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD treated as a spine surgeon in Boston, MA were lab tests, rehabilitation, X-rays and spinal procedures.

arthrodesis (bone fusion surgery)	33
bone surgery	42
decompression surgery	28
diagnostic evaluation	13
doctor visit	265
joint surgery	13
lab tests	778
neck surgery	19
nerve procedures	28
open surgery	13
pelvic surgery	13
rehabilitation	243
spinal procedures	161
X-rays	188

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD.

**Gender**
Male	82
Female	97

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	2
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	149
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	14
75 to 84	57
Less than 65	19
65 to 74	78

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and depression.

Hypertension	54
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	10
Osteoporosis	18
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	21
Atrial Fibrillation	10
Dementia	9
Cancer	9

Education & Training

Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed residency at New York University (NYU) Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has a state license in Missouri.

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Residency: New York University (NYU) Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Licensed In: Missouri

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Newton-Wellesley Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital

MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL PHYSICIANS ORGANIZATION INC

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, MultiPlan, Tufts Health Plan, United Healthcare, Aetna, TRICARE, Medicare, Medicaid, Humana, Railroad Medicare, Coventry, Cigna, Blue California, Beech Street, WellPoint, Medicare ACO, WellSense, Senior Whole Health, Fallon Health, Commonwealth Care Alliance, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare, Maine Community Health Options, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, MassHealth and WellSense NH.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

MultiPlan

Tufts Health Plan

United Healthcare

Aetna

TRICARE

Medicare

Medicaid

Humana

Railroad Medicare

Coventry

Cigna

Blue California

Beech Street

WellPoint

Medicare ACO

WellSense

Senior Whole Health

Fallon Health

Commonwealth Care Alliance

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare

Maine Community Health Options

Mass General Brigham Health Plan

MassHealth

WellSense NH

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Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.73 out of 5 stars based on 209 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Boston, MA.

4.73

Overall Rating

(209 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.	$53,043 EXPEDIUM $44,310	VIPER $8,607	SYNAPSE $125
NUVASIVE, INC.	$47,460 XLIF $31,172	TLIF $7,763	Thoracolumbar $1,112	ALIF $814	Pulse $461	Other $6,137
DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.	$18,454 Spine $10,914	EXPEDIUM $5,669	COUGAR $1,800	Biomaterials-Allograft/Biomate $70
DePuy Synthes Products LLC	$11,414 EXPEDIUM $6,180	Thoracolumbar $964	$4,270
Biocomposites Inc	$9,730 Stimulan $7,230	Stimulan Rapid Cure $2,500
Other	$26,252 BoneScalpel $7,077	EXPEDIUM $2,393	Spine $1,459	CD HORIZON $1,443	Thoracolumbar - TL Therapies $1,147	Other $12,733

**Types of Payments**
Consulting Fee	$116,015
Travel and Lodging	$26,177
Food and Beverage	$13,657
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$5,657
Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a non-accredited and noncertified continuing education program	$4,800
Other	$46

Research Payments

Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD has received 7 research payments totaling $33,769.

Ownership and Interest Payments

This table describes ownership payments received by Dr. Stuart Howard Hershman, MD.

OsteoCentric Technologies, Inc.	2023	$49,979.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Privately Held Company-Non Marketable Ownership
OsteoCentric Technologies, Inc.	2022	$49,979.00	Physician Covered Recipient	Privately Held Company-Non Marketable Ownership

Biography

Dr. Stuart Hershman is a medical specialist in spine surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. His areas of expertise include the following: scoliosis, laminectomy, and kyphosis. He is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Dr. Hershman graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine. He has received a 4.5 out of 5 star rating by his patients. He most likely takes Blue California, Coventry, and Viant, as well as other insurance carriers.