Dr. Alexander Vaccaro, MD

I cannot begin to tell you how amazing Dr Vaccaro is as a Physician and Orthopedic surgeon but frankly a tremendous human being who cares for the welfare of his patients. He did my Spinal Surgery about 18 months ago and allowed me to regain functioning and continue to enjoy life. I continued to follow up in CC and he and his team are tremendous and incredibly responsive!They are in a word selfless and caring. He explains the condition and procedures in great detail and is honest and caring and genuine. I would not ever consider another Orthopedist!!! I would highly recommend this provider.

I went to Dr. Vaccaro for a second opinion. Immediately, he knew I didn't need the surgery I was told I needed by another Doctor. We are talking a major, major, major surgery. That's how the first Dr. described it. Fusion from T10 to the Pelvis. A two day surgery 8 to 10 hours each. Dr Vaccaro not only took the time to call me, he sent me for tests and made an appointment quickly. The staff is amazing and so highly trained. Very impressed. I'm scheduled for his surgery in September. I feel confident and know I will be well taken care of. He has proposed a Spinal fusion from T2 to the Pelvis. Much less invasive. Omg, I could have died with the other one. I feel he saved my life.

I was referred by a friend to Rothman in 2015 for a second opinion due to my Work Comp surgeon telling me no surgery. I researched Rothman and chose Dr. Vaccaro. Dr. Vaccaro took the time to explain my sciatic nerve was 60% pinched off. He performed a discectomy and I fully returned to work within several months, thanks to him and his staff! He is definitely a master of what he does and he is very personable! I am very grateful!

Dr. Vaccaro is a consummate professional. Grateful for experts like this who continue to serve the needs of the community with their skills, gifts, and craft. Extremely grateful for him! And the team he surrounds himself with are incredible as well.

He is very intelligent and personable. Explains your condition and what he will do to render it healthy . Real nice very intelligent surgeon,has many accolades and probably thousands of spinal surgeries under his belt. Hey if he is good enough to take care of the Phila.Eagles football team he gets my broken body without worry.could have retired 10 years ago but takes a special pride in making better surgeons and doctors from the young interns following him like the pied-piper. Gets 10 stars from me.

In 2019 Dr. Vaccaro performed a cervical fusion procedure on my spine. From pre surgery to post-op and P.T. Dr. Vaccaro and his staff were an absolute pleasure to deal with despite the critical, painful circumstances. I consider Dr. Vaccaro to be a leader and at he forefront in his field,. I would recommend him to anyone who has a spinal issue.

I chose Alex Vaccaro as my surgeon after a long journey of researching spine surgeons from around the country, as well as researching the different surgical procedures and new advances and their likely outcomes. I sought the advice of learned colleagues, friends and acquaintenances in the medial field, and was directed to Dr. Vaccaro almost exclusively. I have learned that he is not only known to be the best spine surgeon in the Philadelphia Region, but one of the best in the country. I realized this after scheduling appointments with at least 7-8 other surgeons in the Tri-state area— three from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, two from the University of Pennsylvania, and others from Lankenau and Paoli Hospitals. Dr. Vaccaro was one of the first I saw and he evaluated my MRIs, did a thorough physical exam, and recommended a discectomy with no hesitation. All of the other surgeons suggested a fusion (way more complicated and invasive). I am now pain free!

I had chronic neck pain, stiffness and shoulder pain for over five years and saw several doctors tried several rounds of physical therapy, spinal injections nothing helped. After spending fifteen minutes with Dr. Vaccaro I realized I had hope of being pain free one day. He was very frank and said you are not ready for surgery yet, try some other more targeted PT and if things don't get better see me again. Low and behold a year later I saw him again and he recommended cervical disk replacement w/fusion and nerve decompression. In that year span I did my research on Dr. Vaccaro and the procedure and I was confident and felt reassured I found the best. Also, Dr. Vaccaro's support staff is one the best of all the doctors I have ever gone to!

Doctor Alexander Vaccaro has been named the number one spinal surgeon in the world in 2021! I am a patient of his and I agree with this 100%! I am writing this review and sharing my story to help anyone that has experienced something similar to what I went through. I am currently 52 years old, and I was a pediatric nurse for 19 years and never had any spinal or back problems in these 19 years of nursing, like most people think all nurses do. I experienced a lumbar spinal injury caused by trauma in December of 2016, not work related. When this injury occurred, I went to my PCP for referrals to help me. I have had X-rays, physical therapy, MRI's, a very painful EMG, was seen by chiropractors was put on anti-inflammatory medications had steroid injections under anesthesia and was seen by many spinal specialists that were rated" five stars". I was seen by neurologist, rheumatologists, name it... None of this worked! I was in such severe pain every day and felt that no one could properly diagnose me. I was actually told that medical science has not caught up to me - in my opinion that meant, they had no idea what to do with me for how to properly diagnose me. I went to the emergency room on several occasions due to my severe pain numbness and tingling in my knees, legs, feet, back and also experience swelling. People started to think that this was all in my head and I was exaggerating my pain, I still do not understand this to this day! My family and friends would say to me that I've been seen by numerous five-star doctors and had every single treatment available, maybe I need to see a therapist -this infuriated me! I knew that one day I would find the right spinal Dr even if that meant to travel the world. I was listening to my body and nothing else, always trust your body. It's never wrong. I believe everyone's spinal injury is different. I also believe based off my experience that all of the doctors I've seen stereotyped me, refused to look outside of the box and to look at me as an individual not as all of their previous patients. Which is why I was not properly diagnosed. During these four years of being misdiagnosed I continue to work as a nurse. I was slowly paralyzing myself. I had nerve damage in my knees, legs and feet. Doctors could stick pins on the bottom of my feet and parts of my ankles and I would not flinch I could not feel it. I lost all of my knee reflexes. Patellar reflex. It was getting worse. I started to become incontinent periodically, this was it enough was enough, I had to find the right doctor. The only person that believed in me and supported me was my husband. We were both determined to find the right doctor to heal me. One day I sat in my yard for hours googling the best spinal surgeons in world and this is where I found Doctor Alexander Vaccaro. I could relate to so many of his patients reviews online and how he helped them. I told my husband I think I found him but I'm not sure he's in our health insurance network. He didn't care My husband picked up the phone and made an appointment immediately for me. We were scheduled for the following week, which required additional MRIs to bring to him. On the day of our appointment, within the first 2 minutes of meeting doctor Vaccaro and after he reviewed my MRIs on his computer screen, and pointing to my lumbar spine, L5 and S1 area and said," here is your issue right here"! He stated, this is the cause of your pain, how come no one has found this? My husband immediately replied because they're not as smart as you. He said that I needed to schedule surgery with him immediately and need to stop working ASAP! This can and will be fixed with a T -lift surgery, which required putting screws and plates in my lumbar spine. I am coming up on two years' post-surgery and my only regret is not finding Doctor Alexander Vaccaro sooner. I will be forever grateful to him because if I had not found him, I would be paralyzed and, in a wheelchair! The nerve damage that I had in my knees and feet did not return but that was to be expected. I no longer cry in pain every day. I am doing much better. I will never be 100% because of the four years I was misdiagnosed. If this review can help anyone that is going through anything similar do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call him immediately don't waste your time with other five-star doctors go to the best, Dr Vaccaro, the #1 spinal surgeon in the world. Linda Calabrese

Dr. Vaccaro & his team are outstanding. Short wait times. X-ray tech was patient &answered questions. His Fellow was patient, thorough, & answered questions during my assessment. Nurse/techs were efficient. Dr. Vaccaro was patient, answered questions, explained each area of MRI concerns, reasons for CT testing, & a plan for follow-up. Need for additional surgery.

Had Spinal Fusion surgery done by Dr Vaccaro @ RothmanOrtho Procedure went smooth as silk. Would definitely recommend Jefferson/Rothman Ortho and Dr Vaccaro to anyone in need of spinal surgery.

I am speaking for my father who had a very bad experience with Dr. Vaccaro would like others to speak out if they did also so the admin can see that it wasn't just a bad day or a difficult surgery . Communication was horrible before the surgery in May 2019 about his meds until I drove 45 minutes to get an answer. Then my dad was told the surgery would relieve his pain and help his neck and give him a few years of normalcy. Instead my dad left dependent on oxygen, in 6 months the screws started popping out of his back, and was in more pain. At the follow up visit Dr was arrogant, talked over us not to us, wouldn't answer questions and made rude comments.Dad beat his cancer but after the rudeness and horrible surgery he refused any more drs. In February 2022 he gave up on the little life he had left, refused to eat, and passed away. He was a good man. I believe my dad would still be alive today. Please stick together and let our voices be heard before it happens to someone else.

There is no better spine surgeon in the world. Dr Vacarro cares about his patients, talks to his patients at their level, explains himself well and never cuts you short on time. Thank you

Dr. Vaccaro is every bit as good as his reputation. A gifted surgeon with a pleasant disposition. He performed my lumbar fusion.

One of the best surgeon I’ve ever met. Very caring, takes time and explains everything in detail.

Unbelievably successful back surgery to remove a chunk of disk material that was wedged against a main nerve root in my back. It was probably a lay-up for Dr. Vaccaro, but he made me feel like a VIP every time I saw him.

One of the best doctors I’ve ever met

Great experience at the Rothman Institute. Every person on the staff that I came in contact with was friendly, courteous and professional. From check-in to the time I saw Dr. Vacarro was a perfectly tuned process. Dr. Vacarro was excellent. I never felt rushed. Dr. Vacarro took his time to explain in detail my situation. He was clear and precise in his explanation and my options were discussed in the same manner.  I highly recommend Dr. Vacarro and the Rothman Institute

After being rejected for cervical spin surgery for a pinched nerve indicated by an EMG (nerve conduction test) by my insurance comoany, I was left with no recourse but to suffer pain and weakness. So I thought...until a year later when I was urged by my brother (an M.D.) to get a secind opinion from Dr. Vacarro. Dr Vacarro saw the problem clearly in my MRI and got me approved, covered and "cleaned up" my pretty bad cervical spine with a double discectomy and fusion. I have no more nerve pain! There is understandably some muscle pain in my neck, but it is a fraction of the severe nerve pain that limited my lifestyle. I am delighted with the results. As far as I am concerned he performed brilliantly what no other surgeon was willing to try.

Very caring! Great surgeon!