Dr. Peter Fred Sturm, MD

I was a patient of Dr. Sturms in Washington DC. He was the best doctor! He performed surgery on my hip in 1992 due to issues from my PFFD birth defect. He was always professional and compassionate. I continued seeing him as my surgeon until he moved to another city to serve his patients there. Dr. Sturm thought that he might buy me 8 years with this hip surgery, but he has bought me 31 years and counting. I’m 51 now. I am so very grateful. I wish he was still here, i really trusted and liked having him as my surgeon.

I was a patient of Dr. Sturm’s in the DC area from 1997-2001. I was diagnosed with a 39/23 degree mid thoracic/lumbar curve fairly late at age 13. Luckily, he felt surgery was unnecessary as my growth plates were nearly closed, but I was put in a Boston brace to stabilize. I was a very serious dancer, so he worked with me on a schedule for wearing my brace to allow me to keep dancing. Over the four years I wore the brace, he always listened to me in making adjustments to it and my schedule for wearing it. He’d even address other dancing-related ailments during my checkup appointments for my spine. My mother and I grew very fond of Dr. Sturm - though admittedly he put us off at first with his dry demeanor. In time, we all had each other laughing in the exam room and I always looked forward to seeing him. We chatted about many other things beyond my X-rays. When he told me I’d graduated from my brace, I was thrilled but also a little sad I wouldn’t get to see him any longer since he’d… had such an impact on my life. Five years later, I developed what I came to learn was sciatica. I tracked him down in Chicago for advice, thinking there was no chance he’d call me back. Sure enough, he did call back and remembered me, plus he gave me a recommendation in NYC. He remembered I was a dancer and asked if I would be open to talking to one of his new patients, also a dancer. I never heard from that patient, but hope I’m paying it forward now by posting this review.

I was 15 years old when Dr Sturm did my back surgery back in 1995. I am now 39 and still in tacked. I wore a back brace for 5 years and he was my angel. Wish I could see him now. If you are a patient of his you are in good hands. Thank you Dr . Sturm

My 8 year old daughter was seeing this doctor. When the pharmacy refused to fill prescriptions after surgery for her spinal rod lengthening because the dosage was too high we were told to give her tylenol. She never saw the doctor between surgeries. There were no follow ups after surgery just a call to tell me to take the bandage off and ask how the incision looked.

Dr. Sturm operated on me when I was 12 years old. I had severe scoliosis, 63 degrees and compensating curve of 35. He corrected both down to 13, invisible to the naked eye. Twenty years, and several marathons and yoga sessions later, I am still thankful I was in the care of Dr. Sturm for that operation. I am sad to read other negative reviews, as I am confident the complaints are not for his lack of ability or professionalism. I'm sure his thousands of other success stories are out living their full lives, not writing reviews because they haven't had to think about it again. I remember he had a distinct and dry sense of humor that some might write off as a less than warm bedside manner, but I'd rather a person extremely skilled at the intricate and vital art of spinal surgery when they're hairs-width from your nerve endings that could render you paralyzed, than someone who sugar coats things. I was looking him up to see what ever became of him since he had such a profound impact on my… well-being and wanted to add my positive two cents.

Dr. Sturm is someone who truly cares about his patients. I'm 21 right now and it has been 8 years since my surgery. I have never heard of my condition before and he saved my life. Yes there are some limitations from surgery however the good that it has done for me greatly surpasses them.

Excellent doctor easy to talk to

Have been in pain ever since my surgery. 5 years now. My pain was never addressed at the time. I kept going back with complaints of pain, and was told I shouldn't be in pain and basically ignored. When I received a copy of my records, I was referred to as "uncooperative" because I was complaining of being in pain. My life was ruined. I have not been able to work. I live every day in pain. When I repeatedly asked for help I was told to go out and do something and get over it. I was told to take tylenol. My parents were told not to give me pain medication because I was young and that I should not be in pain. But I was and still am. I am now looking at a huge revision surgery at the age of 21. Taking all of the hardware out and having it done all over again because it should have been done differently to begin with, and my pain should have been addressed right after surgery not ignored. This leads to a chronic pain condition which surgeons like Dr. Sturm should be more aware of… so they don't ruin the lives of their patients.

Seems very caring before surgery, but after surgery watch out. Does not care about pain, does not care if the scoliosis correction he did is failing and going back to how it was. Offers no help or answers or even a referral to someone who could possibly help you. No.. you are on your own with your messed up back. Find another surgeon.

Dr. Sturm has treated my child since before his first birthday for Infantile Scoliosis. He is a top notch surgeon yet chose a kinder treatment for our sweet child. Serial Derotational Casting has been our method of combating Infantile Scoliosis for almost a year now. We are so grateful for the non-surgical correction our child is receiving with Dr. Sturm. He is an Angel to our family.