About Dr. Kelly
Dr. Michael J. Kelly is a spine surgeon at HSS. He focuses on diagnosing and treating a range of spinal disorders including degenerative, traumatic, congenital, and developmental conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine. Primarily, he encourages all of his patients to exhaust non-surgical treatments before considering surgical intervention. Importantly, Dr. Kelly believes in listening to his patients, and involving them in their care by educating them on their particular spinal condition(s). This approach allows for a shared decision-making process, which is critical to ensuring optimal patient outcomes. If surgical intervention is ultimately considered, he specializes in both degenerative and complex spine surgery, employing a combination of traditional and cutting-edge, minimally-invasive techniques, depending on what is best for each patient individually.
After completing his undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Scranton, PA, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, Dr. Kelly spent the next 9 years of his medical training in Washington, DC, at Georgetown University. In 4 years of medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine, he was a Student Life Scholarship Recipient, received the John N. Delahay Orthopaedic Surgery Award, was inducted in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, and graduated Cum Laude. He remained at Georgetown University Hospital for the next 5 years, completing his internship and residency training in Orthopaedic Surgery and was selected the sole Administrative Chief Resident of his graduating class. Finally, Dr. Kelly moved to New York City to complete one year of advanced surgical training as a fellow in Spine Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery.
Dr. Kelly is passionate about advancing the field of spine surgery, with the ultimate goal of giving his patients the best outcomes possible. While primarily a clinician, he is also engaged in basic and clinical research. Dr. Kelly has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, and his work has been presented both nationally and internationally. He has ongoing research projects focused on robotic surgery, spinal anatomy, and the harnessing of artificial intelligence and advanced language learning models in spine surgery and orthopaedic surgical research.
Departments
Special Expertise
Cervical spondylosis
Cervical radiculopathy
Cervical myelopathy
Thoracic myelopathy
Lumbar disc herniation
Lumbar radiculopathy
Lumbar stenosis
Lumbar spondylolysis
Lumbar spondylolisthesis
Spinal deformity
Procedures
Decompression surgery of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine including: laminotomy, laminectomy, microdiscectomy, corpectomy, and cervical laminoplasty.
Fusion procedures of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine including: posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation (cervical, thoracic and lumbar), posterior lumbar interbody fusion, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, anterior lumbar interbody fusion, lateral lumbar interbody fusion, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
Deformity surgery including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal deformity.
Motion preserving surgeries including cervical disc replacement surgery and cervical laminoplasty.
Augmented reality and 3D computer navigated surgery.
Patient Stories
Insurance
This provider is currently in the process of joining the networks of many commercial insurance plans and should show as a participating provider soon.
If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.
Credentials
Appointments
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Instructor in Orthopedic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical Center
Affiliations
American Medical Association
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society
Certification
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Board Eligible
Awards
Administrative Chief Resident, Georgetown Hospital Orthoapedic Surgery Department, Washington, DC, 2022-23
John N. Delahay Orthopaedic Surgery Award Recipient, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, 2018
Education
Medical: Georgetown University School of Medicine, 2018
Internship: Georgetown University Hospital, 2019
Residency: Georgetown University Hospital, 2023
Fellowship: Hospital for Special Surgery, 2024
State Licensure
Languages
English
For My Patients
Spine Procedures
- Spine - Cervical – Anterior Cervical Discectomy, Fusion – Instrumented (ACDF)
- Spine - Cervical – Cervical Laminectomy, Fusion – Instrumented
- Spine - Cervical – Cervical Laminoplasty
- Spine - Cervical – Posterior Cervical Laminotomy
- Spine - Computer–Assisted Spine Surgery
- Spine - Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF)
- Spine - Lumbar – Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Spine - Lumbar – Laminectomy
- Spine - Lumbar – Laminectomy, Fusion – Instrumented
- Spine - Lumbar – Minimally Invasive Discectomy (Percutaneous Disc Removal)
- Spine - Lumbar – Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)
- Spine - Lumbar – Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
- Spine - Thoracic – Scoliosis Treatment: Derotation with Instrumentation
- Spine - Thoracic – Thoracic Laminectomy and Instrumentation
Publications by Dr. Kelly
Selected Journal Articles
For all publications, please see the PubMed listing.
Selected Books/Chapters
Kelly MJ, Delahay J. Essentials of Orthopaedic Surgery, 5e. Chapter 1: Basic Science of Bone and Cartilage Metabolism.
Zelenty W, Kelly MJ, Hughes AP. Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery. Seminars in Spine Surgery. December 2022.
Fakhre E, Kelly MJ, Mo F. Proximal Junctional Kyphosis. Seminars in Spine Surgery. March 2022.
Selected Presentations
Kelly MJ, Gelfand B, Kalantar SB. "24-month Fusion Analysis using Artificial Intelligence-Augmented Flexion-Extension Radiographs in a 1510-patient Cohort Undergoing ACDF with HA-infused PEEK Spacers: Helping Define a Fusion Standard." 2024 International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery Annual Conference, Miami, FL; Young Surgeons' Grant Recipient.
Kelly MJ, Gelfand B, Kalantar SB. "Factors influencing the outcome of patients after ACDF - impact of gender, smoking, BMI, employment status, and number of operated segments." 2023 MedStar Health-Georgetown University Research & Education Symposium; Bethesda, MD
Kelly MJ, Gelfand B, Kalantar SB. "Radiographic and Patient-Reported Outcomes in a Large Cohort of Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion using Hydroxyapatite-infused PEEK Interbody Spacers: Two-Year Results."
2023 American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Spine Summit; Miami, FL; Albert Scholar Award Winner
2023 MedStar Georgetown University Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Chief Resident Research Day; Washington, DC
2023 Innovasis Winter Symposium; Salt Lake City, UT
2022 International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery Annual Conference; Nassau, Bahamas
2022 Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Annual Meeting; Las Vegas, NV
Kelly MJ, Kalantar SB. "Radiographic and Patient Reported Outcomes in a Large Cohort of Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion using Hydroxyapatite-infused PEEK Interbody Spacers: One-Year Results."
2021 Innovasis Summer Symposium; Salt Lake City, UT
2021 Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting; Austin, TX
2021 Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Annual Meeting; Las Vegas, NV
Research
Dr. Kelly has multiple research interests. These interests include radiographic and patient-reported outcomes in cervical fusion surgery using cutting-edge implant technology, as well as advancing the field of robotics in spine surgery through developing and evaluating new surgical techniques.
Industry Relationships
Industry Relationships
HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.
As of July 05, 2024, Dr. Kelly reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.
HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.