Chester Donnally III, MD

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Addison, TX
Chester Donnally III, MD

As a third generation Texan, Dr. Donnally is compassionate to the needs of his community and the patients he serves in his native city of Dallas. He prides himself on performing the least invasive amount of surgery to alleviate a patient’s spinal pathology while concurrently accelerating their post-operative rehabilitation. Additionally, he stresses surgical techniques that minimize post-operative pain and medication use. While Dr. Donnally is passionate about minimally invasive surgery he is also committed to complex corrective procedures for adult spinal deformities. Early in his career Dr. Donnally placed an emphasis on medical research. His contribution of more than 70 peer reviewed publications and a dozen book chapters has allowed him to be invited to many speaking engagements across the country to present his findings. He is dedicated to advancing the spinal community’s knowledge base through research and education. He continues to work with various scientific and product teams to identify modern techniques that will better diagnosis spinal conditions and manage these pathologies. A true local, Dr. Donnally graduated from Highland Park High School in Dallas and then earned Magna Cum Laude honors while at Southern Methodist University. While attending medical school at Texas Tech Health Science Center he graduated top of his class with a Distinction in Research. Dr. Donnally completed his Orthopedic Surgery training at University of Miami Hospital/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He continued his Spine Surgery training as a fellow at the world-renowned Rothman Institute in Philadelphia. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha honor societies. Additionally he earned the distinction of Eagle Scout with local Dallas Troop 82.

01/14/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 #𝟏 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬.🏆
Traditional high-speed burrs have been around since the 1970s — and guess what… So have antenna-based TVs📺 (rabbit-ear antennas)!! They worked. They were reliable. And they absolutely got the job done. ⚙️ But that doesn’t mean they’re the only option anymore.

In 2026, we have 𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 that allows far more controlled, precise bone removal while helping protect nearby nerves and soft tissue. Why would you watch a football game 🏈 on an old, grainy TV 📺 with “rabbit ears” when you can have a 4K TV the size of your refrigerator delivered and installed tomorrow with just a few clicks on your phone?! 📲

ʟᴇɢᴀᴄʏ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢʏ ɪꜱɴ’ᴛ ʙᴀᴅ 👀— but when better tools exist, it makes sense to use them.🤠

01/10/2026

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙩 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙣 (Fact 12 of 12)- Becoming a spine surgeon is a long road — and absolutely worth it. It starts with 4 years of college (SMU🐴), followed by 4 years of medical school (Texas Tech☝️). After that comes 5 years of orthopedic surgery residency (University of Miami🙌), and then a 1-year spine surgery fellowship (world-famous Rothman Institute🌎).

🤠That’s 10 years of additional training after college — and I loved every step of it. I’m incredibly grateful for the education, the mentors, and the opportunity to do work I truly enjoy every single day.

01/09/2026

𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚! We’re kicking off the year with busy surgery days, long clinic days, and doing meaningful work for the people we serve. 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺, 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆. It’s a great way to start the year — let’s keep it going. 🙌

01/09/2026

Fact 11 of 12 — ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion) ✌️ ACDF is one of the most reliable operations we have for relieving nerve or spinal cord compression in the neck. By approaching from the front, we can safely remove the disc, decompress the nerve, and restore alignment — then allow the spine to fuse and stabilize over time.

It’s a powerful option for the right patient, especially when pain, weakness, or neurologic symptoms aren’t improving with conservative care. In this video, I explain why ACDF is chosen and what problem it’s designed to solve.

01/08/2026

Fact 10 of 12 — ALIF vs Lateral vs TLIF
There are major differences between ALIF, lateral, and TLIF — and the name tells you everything. The difference is how the spacer (or cage) enters the disc space: from the front (anterior/ALIF), from the side under the ribs (lateral), or from the back (posterior/TLIF).

Each approach has real advantages. In general, an anterior approach is the most powerful when it comes to placing a larger cage, restoring lordosis, maintaining foraminal height, and achieving strong fusion rates. That said, the best approach depends on the spinal level, the specific pathology, and the surgeon’s technique — there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

01/06/2026

Fact 9 of 12 — Pars Fracture
A pars fracture is a stress fracture in a small but critical part of the spine called the pars interarticularis. It’s common in younger patients and athletes, and it can lead to instability or even progression to spondylolisthesis if it doesn’t heal properly.

In this video, I explain how pars fractures happen, what symptoms to watch for, and when treatment ranges from rest and bracing to surgery — depending on pain, stability, and lifestyle goals.

01/05/2026

Fact 8 of 12 — Isthmic Spondylolisthesis
Isthmic spondylolisthesis is a specific type caused by a stress fracture in the spine that allows one vertebra to slip forward. Over time, that slip can lead to instability, nerve compression, and loss of normal spinal alignment.

In the right situation, a single-level fusion can restore stability, disc height, curvature, and ultimately improve quality of life. In this video, I explain how we think through that decision and why less can sometimes be more when it comes to surgery.

01/04/2026

Fact 7 of 12 — Pelvic Fixation for Scoliosis
When we’re correcting scoliosis — especially in adults or severe curves — sometimes pelvic fixation becomes a key part of the construct. Pelvic screws anchor into the pelvis and give us a stronger foundation for long spinal corrections, helping prevent failure at the base of the curve and improving overall alignment.

In this short video, I break down what pelvic fixation is, why we use it for scoliosis, and how it’s different than typical pedicle screws. I have no financial ties to the implants shown — I just want to help you understand the tools we use and why they matter for outcomes.

01/03/2026

Fact 6 of 12 — Pinched Nerve Tunnels Explained
Your spinal nerves travel through tiny “tunnels” in your spine — and when those tunnels get tight, that’s what people feel as a pinched nerve. It can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness down an arm or leg, depending on where it’s happening. In this short clip, I break down what those tunnels are, why they narrow over time, and what we actually do to help create space and relieve symptoms.

Education like this matters because knowing why you hurt is the first step toward getting better.

12/30/2025

Fact 5 of 12 — Disc Herniations 💿
A disc herniation happens when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes out and irritates a nearby nerve. That’s why patients often feel arm or leg pain more than back pain.

The key thing most people don’t realize? Most disc herniations do NOT need surgery. Time, physical therapy, and targeted treatments help many patients improve. Surgery only enters the conversation when pain is severe, persistent, or there’s progressive weakness or numbness.

Education matters — and understanding your diagnosis changes everything.

12/23/2025

Fact 4 of 12 — Ultrasonic Spine Surgery in Action ⚙️🔊
Ultrasonic tools are one of the most exciting advances in spine surgery today. They allow me to remove bone with incredible precision while protecting the nerves and surrounding soft tissue — which matters when millimeters count.

This technology helps make surgery more efficient, more controlled, and safer for the right patients.

More spine facts coming daily 👇
(SADLY- no financial ties to making this video)🤷‍♂️

SpinalStenosis

12/15/2025

𝐒𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 🥹🙏🧵
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I am truly so blessed to take care of such incredible patients. 💙 One of them — the wife of one of my a patient — surprised our entire surgical team by hand-making nearly 10 prayer blankets! 🧶🙏
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She told us that every single stitch is a prayer — and honestly, that stopped us in our tracks. Moments like this are powerful reminders of why we do what we do every single day.
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We are beyond grateful for the kindness, love, and generosity our patients show us. These blankets keep us warm in the OR — but more importantly, they warm our hearts. ❤️
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Thank you for trusting us with your care. We don’t take that responsibility lightly.
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✨ Posted with patient gratitude ✨

Address

17051 Dallas Pkwy #400
Addison, TX
75001

Telephone

+12143703535

Website

https://www.donnallyspine.com/contact-us-spine-surgeon-dallas-tx.html

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