Continental Who's Who

Said G. Osman, MD, FAAOS, FRCS Ed

Said G. Osman, MD, FAAOS, FRCS Ed, is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Top Surgeon in the field of Medicine as the Founder and as a Spine Surgeon at Sky Spine Endoscopy Institute.

Mainly focusing in endoscopic and endoscopically-assisted spine surgery, Dr. Osman also performs complex open and minimally invasive spine procedures when necessary. Dr. Osman has nineteen years of experience in his field. Born in the border town of Moyale, Marsabit County, Kenya, Dr. Osman was inspired to become a doctor after witnessing the recovery of 12-year-old girl. Dr. Osman was the first black doctor in his hometown and moved to the U.S. with an ambition to develop the least invasive spinal surgical technique while causing the least amount of collateral damage. Continuing to enhance spinal surgery, Dr. Osman has been involved in the development and patenting of numerous surgical instruments including Uni-directional Dynamic Spinal Fixation Device, method for post-operatively compressing a bone graft, and patenting of transpedicular and trans-osseous partial disc replacement. The latter is designed to replace degenerated spinal discs in young people, in the least disruptive, and physiologic manner currently not available anywhere. This patent is yet to be developed and is crucial for the restoration of normal function in teenagers and young adults suffering from chronic back pain which has, to a large extent, contributed to opioid addiction and even deaths. Dr. Osman has pioneered many endoscopic spine surgery techniques including endoscopic thoracic decompression and fusion, endoscopic transforaminal decompression of lumbar stenosis, endoscopic trans-iliac approach to lumbosacral junction, and endoscopically-assisted decompression and interbody fusion of thoracic and lumbar spine. Dr. Osman has also developed innovative operating room drapery, specifically designed for least invasive, endoscopic spine surgery. Recognized nationally and internationally for his contribution to the field of minimally invasive, endoscopic spine surgery, Dr. Osman continues to publish and lecture worldwide about his success in using the least invasive spinal techniques. Looking to the future, Dr. Osman wishes to continue developing pioneering advancements and providing the utmost care for his patients.

Dr. Osman obtained a Doctorate of Medicine with Honors from University of Nairobi, Kenya. He went on to complete his PostDoctoral Fellowship training in the United Kingdom at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he graduated as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in General Surgery. Next, He sub-specialized in Orthopedic Surgery and was honored as a Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Osman moved to the U.S. in 1992 as Spine Fellow at the University Hospitals of Cleveland, driven by his desire to develop advanced endoscopic spine surgery with the goal of minimizing surgical trauma and complications, while providing maximum benefit of the surgical intervention. Dr. Osman is Board Certified and a Fellow of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

To further his professional development, Dr. Osman is an active lecturer and diplomat for redefining innovative treatments of debilitating spinal disorders, and he has served as a spine consultant to leading spine companies related to minimally invasive spine surgery technology. While a Spine Fellow at the University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Osman had predicted the risk of opioid epidemic in the USA based on his observation of the massive trauma of conventional spine surgery, chronic opioid use, lack of universal protocols for spine care, and lack of standardized communication between pain management providers and surgeons in the care of spine sufferers. To address this deficit, Dr. Osman developed “The Osman Approach” — a protocol which standardizes clinical evaluation; anatomically classifies spinal pathologies based on the imaging studies; uses diagnostic/therapeutic injections to confirm/treat spinal pain generators; and choice of least invasive, precise surgical approach based on the pathology and patient attributes, thus customizing treatment to the patient in the most precise manner.

In recognition of his professional development, Dr. Osman is recognized as a Top Orthopedic Surgeon throughout the Maryland/Washington, DC/Virginia region and is featured on the Top Doctors Interviews which are seen on CNN Headline News, FOX News, Oprah Winfrey Network, CNBC and other networks. In July 2019, Dr. Osman received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1st World Congress of Spine Endoscopy, for his contribution to the evolution of spine endoscopy. He has been awarded The Kambin Foundation Annual Award for research in the field of minimally invasive spinal surgery and the Best Resident Research Paper Award by Ohio Orthopedic Society.

Dr. Osman advices young surgeons to learn about how inadequate training in spine endoscopy practices in the late 1980s and early 1990s resulted in serious nerve damage and endoscopic spinal surgeries got stigmatized as dangerous. Dr. Osman is dedicated to helping spine surgeons increase education on safe protocols because he is committed to doing the right thing for the benefit of patients, families and society.

Dr. Osman dedicates this recognition to Dr. Byron E. Marsolais.

To learn more, please visit www.skyspineendoscopyinstitute.com.