Premier Orthopaedic Associates — Cherry Hill — Camden County, NJ
Board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeons. Convenient Cherry Hill location. Comprehensive care for neck and back conditions — from conservative treatment through complex spine surgery.
Our Cherry Hill spine surgeons evaluate and treat the full range of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions. Below are the conditions most commonly seen at our Cherry Hill location, each linking to a dedicated condition page.
Many Cherry Hill patients come to us after months of neck pain they have tried to manage on their own — over-the-counter medication, posture adjustments, heat and ice. When it persists or starts spreading into the shoulder or arm, that is the signal it is time for a proper evaluation. We see this pattern frequently in Camden County patients with desk-based work, prior injuries, or simply the accumulated wear of an active life.
Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common diagnoses we see at our Cherry Hill office, particularly among patients in their 40s and 50s who are still active and determined to stay that way. The condition is manageable in the majority of cases — surgery is rarely the starting point, and many patients do well for years with a structured conservative program before any procedural discussion becomes necessary.
A herniated disc is often what is behind the radiating pain — down the leg, into the arm — that brings Cherry Hill patients to our office after primary care has not resolved it. Most herniated discs respond well to a focused conservative program before any surgical discussion. For those who do need surgery, the procedure is well-established and recovery is typically straightforward.
Patients with lumbar stenosis often describe a recognizable pattern: back and leg pain that builds with walking and eases when they sit down or lean forward on a shopping cart. If that sounds familiar, an evaluation at our Cherry Hill location can clarify whether decompression is the right next step — or whether a structured conservative program will allow you to continue the activities that matter to you.
Scoliosis brings a wide range of patients to our Cherry Hill practice — from adolescents whose school screenings flagged a curve, to adults who have lived with a known curvature for decades and are now experiencing progressive pain. Our evaluation looks at both the structural picture and its practical impact on daily life, and treatment recommendations follow from that combination, not from imaging alone.
Osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures are frequently dismissed as ordinary back pain until imaging reveals a different story. Cherry Hill patients who experience a sudden increase in mid or lower back pain — particularly after a minor fall, a sneeze, or a cough — should seek evaluation promptly. A compression fracture caught early is highly treatable, and kyphoplasty can stabilize it quickly with excellent pain relief for appropriately selected patients.
Whiplash is one of the most undertreated injuries we see, because many patients assume it will resolve on its own after a collision. When neck pain, headaches, or arm symptoms persist beyond a few weeks, our Cherry Hill team provides a thorough evaluation to determine whether the injury has involved disc, nerve, or joint structures that require targeted care rather than time alone.
Our Cherry Hill spine surgeons offer the full range of modern spine treatments, from conservative non-surgical management through complex reconstructive procedures. Each treatment below links to a dedicated page with full detail on the procedure, candidacy criteria, and what to expect.
If you have been dealing with neck pain that radiates into your arm — burning, electric, or sharp — a consultation at our Cherry Hill office starts with a review of your imaging and a careful neurological exam. Most patients begin with a structured conservative program. Those who need surgery have well-established options depending on which cervical level is affected and how the nerve is being compressed. We do not default to any single procedure; the recommendation follows the anatomy.
Foraminotomy is a motion-preserving option — the treated segment of your spine retains its normal range of movement after surgery. For Cherry Hill patients with foraminal narrowing that has not responded to injections or physical therapy, it is often the cleanest surgical solution: targeted relief to the nerve without fusion. Most patients are back to normal activity within four to six weeks, and the procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis.
For Cherry Hill patients with osteoporosis who have sustained a vertebral compression fracture, kyphoplasty is performed at Millennium Surgical Center — close to home, typically on an outpatient basis, with most patients reporting meaningful pain relief within days. The choice between kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty depends on the fracture's age, its extent, and whether there is measurable vertebral height worth restoring. Both options are discussed in detail during your consultation so you understand exactly what to expect.
Laminectomy is among the most reliable procedures in spine surgery, and our Cherry Hill surgeons have performed it across a wide range of degenerative presentations and patient profiles. For patients whose stenosis has reached the point where a short walk produces leg heaviness or cramping, decompression frequently provides immediate and durable relief. We offer both open and minimally invasive approaches — the right choice depends on the extent and distribution of the compression, not on a blanket preference for one technique.
Sciatica — the radiating leg pain that travels from the lower back into the buttock, thigh, or calf — is one of the most common reasons Cherry Hill patients seek a spine evaluation. When a herniated lumbar disc is driving it and conservative care has not resolved it after six to twelve weeks, microdiscectomy is frequently the right next step. Most patients walk the day of surgery, return to desk work within one to two weeks, and describe the relief as significant and fast.
TLIF is recommended at our Cherry Hill office when a lumbar segment has deteriorated to the point where stabilization is the right long-term answer — typically in cases of advanced degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, or a prior surgery that did not hold. Rather than continuing to manage symptoms that keep returning, fusion addresses the mechanical source of the problem. Your surgeon will walk you through what the surgery involves, what the hospital stay looks like, and what a realistic recovery timeline means for your specific situation.
If you have been told you need lumbar fusion, it is worth understanding that the approach matters as much as the decision to fuse. ALIF — performed from the front of the body — allows for better disc height restoration and spinal alignment than posterior techniques in many cases, and our Cherry Hill surgeons discuss it when the anatomy supports it as the most mechanically sound choice. ALIF is typically coordinated with a vascular surgeon for the anterior approach and reviewed carefully with each patient before any decision is made.
Cervical foraminal stenosis often develops over years, and many Cherry Hill patients arrive having managed neck pain, arm numbness, or weakening grip for longer than they should have. A careful review of your MRI identifies which level is involved and how severely the nerve root is compressed — that information determines whether physical therapy and injections are appropriate, or whether a surgical procedure to restore space around the nerve is the more direct path to lasting relief.
When surgery is the right recommendation at our Cherry Hill office, we evaluate whether a minimally invasive approach is appropriate for your specific anatomy and the complexity of what needs to be corrected. MISS is not always the right choice — some cases require an open approach to address the problem properly — but when it fits, the benefits are real: shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, faster return to activity, and less postoperative pain. Our surgeons apply minimally invasive techniques when the clinical picture supports them, not as a default.
Our Cherry Hill spine program is led by two board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeons with complementary expertise and decades of combined practice in Southern New Jersey.
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon | Fellowship-Trained, UCSF | Chief Resident, Yale
Patients at our Cherry Hill office consistently describe their first appointment with Dr. Shah the same way: they came in expecting a quick review of their imaging and left with a clear, specific understanding of their condition and a staged plan they actually believed in. Dr. Shah's approach is grounded in the idea that a surgeon who explains well is a surgeon whose patients do better — not as a courtesy, but because patients who understand their diagnosis engage more fully in their recovery. He holds faculty appointments at Rowan University Medical School, has published and presented his research at major spine conferences internationally, and brings that same evidence-driven rigor to every patient he sees in Cherry Hill.
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon | NASS Member | 35+ Years in Southern NJ
Dr. Zerbo has been treating spine patients in Camden County for more than 35 years. For many Cherry Hill patients and their families, he is not a new name — he is the surgeon their neighbors recommended, or whose care they received before POA. He founded and led Zerbo Spine, PA before joining Premier Orthopaedic Associates, building his reputation in this community through outcomes over decades. His surgical relationships at Millennium Surgical Center in Cherry Hill mean that patients who need a procedure are cared for close to home, by a surgeon whose face they already know. That continuity — from the first office visit through surgery and into long-term follow-up — is what his Cherry Hill patients return to him for.
Our Cherry Hill location brings fellowship-trained, board-certified spine expertise directly to Camden County. Patients no longer need to travel to Philadelphia or a distant academic center for subspecialty spine care.
Dr. Shah brings academic spine training from Yale and UCSF with a focus on minimally invasive cervical techniques and complex reconstructive surgery. Dr. Zerbo brings 35-plus years of community practice and deep familiarity with the Southern New Jersey patient population. Together, they cover the full range of cervical and lumbar spine conditions.
We do not rush to surgery. Every patient receives a thorough trial of appropriate conservative care before any surgical discussion. When surgery is recommended, it is because the evidence clearly supports it — not because it is the path of least resistance.
Our Cherry Hill office is centrally located in Camden County with accessible parking and scheduling designed around the patient's life, not the practice's convenience.
If your needs or schedule change, you have access to the same spine team at our Deptford, Vineland, and Mullica Hill at Inspira locations. Your records, your care plan, and your surgeon relationship travel with you across every site.
Where is the Premier Orthopaedic Associates Cherry Hill spine office located?
Do I need a referral to see a spine surgeon at your Cherry Hill location?
What spine procedures are available at the Cherry Hill location?
How do I know if my spine condition requires surgery or if conservative care is enough?
Our Cherry Hill location serves patients throughout Camden County and the surrounding communities of Southern New Jersey. [ADDRESS TO BE CONFIRMED BY POA TEAM — insert full address, parking details, and cross-streets here before publishing.] Appointments can be requested online or by calling (856) 690-1616.
In most cases, a referral is not required to schedule a consultation with our Cherry Hill spine team. However, your insurance plan may require one, so we recommend verifying with your provider before your appointment. Our front desk team can help answer questions about your specific coverage when you call.
Our Cherry Hill spine surgeons offer the full range of treatments available across the POA network, including cervical radiculopathy treatment, laminectomy and spinal decompression, microdiscectomy, spinal fusion (TLIF and ALIF), foraminotomy, kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty, cervical foraminal stenosis treatment, and minimally invasive spine surgery. Surgical procedures are performed at Millennium Surgical Center in Cherry Hill and other affiliated facilities. Your consultation will confirm which treatment is appropriate for your specific condition.
Most patients who come to our Cherry Hill office for a spine evaluation are not yet candidates for surgery, and that is intentional. Our first goal is always to understand the full picture of your condition and exhaust every appropriate conservative option. Surgery is recommended only when the clinical evidence and your individual circumstances clearly point to it as the right next step. Your surgeon will walk you through that assessment at your consultation and give you a specific, honest recommendation.
MON — FRI: 8:30AM - 5PM
