John Knightly, MD, FAANS
Maxim Spine
197 Ridgedale Ave., Suite 225, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
310 Madison Ave., Suite 300, Morristown, NJ 07960
33 Upper Overlook Rd., Suite 405, Summit, NJ 07901 | 862.284.6935 | maximspine.com
When it comes to spine surgery, choosing a surgeon with extensive experience and expertise is paramount. John Knightly, MD, FAANS, is one such surgeon and, according to his peers and patients, one of the very best. A board-certified, fellowship-trained, nationally and regionally recognized neurosurgeon who has been designated a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly multiple times, Dr. Knightly has 30 years of experience and a subspecialty interest in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery.
Dr. Knightly has a simple treatment philosophy that has served his practice—and his patients—well over the years. “Understand what your patients need and do the right operation on the right patient at the right time,” he says.
According to Dr. Knightly, not every patient needs surgery, so it is important to do a thorough physical examination, discuss a patient’s symptoms, and order imaging tests, such as MRIs and x-rays. “The imaging study, the exam, and the symptom history should align,” Dr.
Knightly says. “Sometimes, a patient’s symptoms can be handled with pain management, a minimally invasive procedure, or a combination.” Among the minimally invasive procedures Dr. Knightly performs are laminectomies, discectomies, and spinal fusions.
Dr. Knightly graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He completed his residency at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, MD, and his fellowship at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ. He is a past Chairman, Board of Directors, for NeuroPoint Alliance and a founding member of the executive committee of the American Spinal Registry (ASR). He is a former Vice-Chairman and Director of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons (ABNS) and has had appointments on several committees within the AANS, American College of Surgeons, and the National Quality Forum. He also serves as Chair of the Neurosurgical Quality Committee in Washington, DC. His primary interest in healthcare policy is in maximizing patient policy and improving access to appropriate care for patients.
