About Harry Lightsey, MD
Harry Lightsey, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He specializes in the management of adult spinal disorders. Dr. Lightsey is committed to providing personalized care through both surgical and non-surgical treatments. His clinical interests include minimally invasive spine surgery, treatment of traumatic and degenerative conditions and the role of emerging technology in spine surgery.
Dr. Lightsey completed his undergraduate degree in Biophysical Chemistry at Davidson College, graduating magna cum laude. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He then completed his residency at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, serving as Chief Resident in his final year. He continued his specialization in spine surgery at the world-renowned Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, where he worked with leaders in the field and trained in all aspects of spine surgery.
Dr. Lightsey is deeply involved in research focusing on enhancing patient outcomes and understanding patient-reported outcomes in spine care. He has published extensively, with numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, and has contributed to several significant textbook chapters. As an active member of leading spine research societies, including the North American Spine Society and the Cervical Spine Research Society, Dr. Lightsey remains at the forefront of advancements in spine surgery. Through his dedication to clinical excellence and research, he aims to advance the field and improve the quality of life for his patients.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Dr. Lightsey enjoys participating in various fitness activities. He values his time spent in co-founding the HCORP Ortho App and orthopaedic exercise spaces during residency, underscoring his commitment to promoting health and wellness. His engagement in these activities reflects his dedication to a holistic approach to health, both within and beyond his surgical practice.
Clinical Interests:
- Adult spine surgery
- Cervical disc degeneration
- Cervical stenosis
- Disc excision
- Herniated disc
- Image guided surgery
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar stenosis
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Myelopathy
- Radiculopathy
- Spinal fusion
- Spondylolisthesis
- Sports injuries of the spine
Treats:
- Adult
Locations
Orthopaedic Spine Service
55 Fruit St.
Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care
Suite 3A
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-724-8636
Orthopaedic Spine Service at Newton-Wellesley Hospital
159 Wells Ave.
Newton, MA 02459
Phone: 617-831-7095
Orthopaedics at Mass General Waltham
52 Second Ave.
1st Floor, Suite 1150
Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: 617-724-8636
Medical Education
- MD, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
- Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Fellowship, Rothman Institute @ Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Accepted Insurance Plans
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Medicaid CT
- Medicare ACO
- Tufts Health Plan
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
Research
Dr. Lightsey is deeply involved in research dedicated to enhancing patient outcomes. His work emphasizes optimizing patient-reported outcome measures to better tailor treatments to individual patient needs. Dr. Lightsey's research includes evaluating the effectiveness and long-term results of minimally invasive procedures to reduce recovery times and improve surgical success.
Additionally, Dr. Lightsey has explored the role of telemedicine in spine care, aiming to improve access and continuity of care for patients. He has studied patient experiences and the accuracy of surgical plans developed through telemedicine, contributing to literature on the efficacy and implementation of remote care in orthopedic practices. Through these research endeavors, Dr. Lightsey aims to advance spine surgery practices and enhance patient care through innovative, personalized, and evidence-based approaches.
Publications
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See a complete list of my publications via the National Institutes of Health.
Select Publications:
- Lightsey IV, H.M., Yeung, C.M., Rossi, L.P., Chen, A.F., Harris, M.B., Stenquist, D.S. OrthoPass: An Orthopaedic Patient Handoff Template Yields Sustained Quantitative and Qualitative Improvements 3.5 Years after Implementation. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2023 Nov.
- Lightsey IV, H.M., Maier II, S.P., Nisavic, M., Kenney, K., Lovett, L.A., Lussier-Cushing, M., Abrams, J. Fleming, M. Capacity and Declination of Care in the Surgical Patient. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2023 Nov.
- Lightsey IV, H.M., Giberson-Chen, C.C., Crawford, A.M., Striano, B.M., Simpson, A.K., Schoenfeld, A.J. Thoracolumbar Injury Classification Systems: The Importance of Concepts and Language in the Move toward Standardization. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023 Jan.Lightsey IV, H.M., Maier, S.P., Bono, C.M., Kang, J.D., Harris, M.B. In-Hospital, 24-hour Exercise Spaces for Resident and Staff Wellness. HSS-J. 2022 Oct.
- Xiong, G.X., Greene, N.E., Lightsey IV, H.M., Crawford, A.M., Striano, B.M., Simpson, A.K., Schoenfeld, A.J. Telemedicine Use in Orthopaedic Surgery Varies by Race, Ethnicity, Primary Language, and Insurance Status. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2021 Jul.
- Yeung, C.M., Lightsey IV, H.M., Isaac, S., Isaac, Z.I., Gilligan, C., Zaidi, H., Ludwig, S.C., Kang, J.D., Makhni, M.C. Improving Spine Models of Care. JBJS Rev. 2021 Apr.Lightsey IV, H.M., Crawford, A.M., Xiong, G.X., Schoenfeld, A.J., Simpson, A.K. Surgical plans generated from telemedicine visits are rarely changed after in-person evaluation in spine patients. Spine J. 2021 Mar.