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.

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 ✨

12/14/2025

🔍𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙈𝙍𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 — does it say 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙨? Let’s talk about what that actually means.📝

Foraminal stenosis happens when the opening for a nerve becomes too tight, which can lead to leg or arm pain, numbness, or weakness. In this video, I break it down in simple terms, explain why it develops over time, and how we approach treatment — from conservative care to surgery when necessary.

🏆My goal is to make spine diagnoses easier to understand so patients can make informed decisions about their care.
🎙️If you’ve been told you have a pinched nerve and aren’t sure what to do next, this is for you. Drop questions below 👇

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12/13/2025

Laminectomy is one of the most straightforward and effective ways to relieve pressure on a pinched nerve in the spine. In this quick breakdown, I explain what we remove, why we remove it, and how creating space around the nerve can lead to real symptom improvement — sometimes immediately.

Whether you’re hearing this term for the first time or you’ve been told you might need one, this video cuts through the jargon so you actually understand what’s going on and why it helps.

Drop questions below if you want clarity on your imaging or symptoms! 👇

12/12/2025

I don’t perform TLIF fusions unless they’re truly necessary — but when the anatomy demands it, this technique can be incredibly effective.
A Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) helps decompress pinched nerves and stabilize unstable segments, especially in cases like spondylolisthesis or severe degenerative collapse.

In this short video, I break down:
• why a TLIF may be chosen
• what actually happens during the procedure
• how it helps patients get long-term relief
• my approach to keeping the surgical footprint as small and precise as possible

I always aim for the simplest, safest option that solves the underlying problem — and sometimes TLIF is exactly that.

If you have questions about fusion surgery or alternatives, drop them in the comments.

11/28/2025

I’m grateful for the hundreds of patients I operate on each year — and the thousands more I guide clinically — who trust me to help improve their lives.

For me, everything comes back to 3 pillars:
1️⃣ Respect in my local community ( )
2️⃣ Being present as a mentor and for my family ( )
3️⃣ Leading and pushing the spine field forward internationally ( )

Every patient, every case, every conversation… it all matters. Thank you for trusting me with your spine and your future. 🙏

11/27/2025

Technology connects the entire country📡🛰️🇺🇸
More and more patients are asking for virtual spine consultations, and honestly… it works extremely well for the right situations. I can review imaging, walk you through what’s actually causing your symptoms, and help you understand your options — all from home.

A good virtual visit doesn’t replace a physical exam forever, but it can save time, reduce anxiety, and give people clarity early in the process. If you’re dealing with back issues due to nerve pain, stenosis, or a slipped disc, you don’t always need to wait weeks just to get basic answers. Due to demand- these are reserved for surgical options, I’d defer to your local non-op specialists for non-op remedies.

Drop any questions in the comments — happy to help break things down in simple terms.

11/18/2025

𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝 ‘𝙛𝙞𝙭’ 𝙮𝙤𝙪?? Ultrasonic tools here in are one of the most interesting shifts happening in spine surgery right now. They let me work with incredible precision while protecting the soft tissue and nerves around the problem area — which can mean less pain and a smoother recovery for patients dealing with stenosis or nerve compression.

Boooo- no I don’t have any financial ties to this video. I just like sharing the cool advances that make surgery safer, more efficient, and more effective for the people who need it.

If you’ve been told you have a pinched nerve, spinal stenosis, or are considering surgery, drop a question in the comments — I’m happy to explain anything in simple terms!! 📝✍️

11/16/2025

🤳 Pray for my amazing 🤩 office staff for having to put up with me!🤷‍♂️😂

11/06/2025

Why treat Spondylolisthesis? 🤷‍♂️
Because when a vertebra slips out of place, it can pinch nerves, cause pain, stiffness, and stop you from doing what you love. I’ll walk you through what really happens, when it matters, and how we fix it.
I have no financial ties in this video — I’m just sharing what matters to my patients and to me.

11/03/2025

Ultrasonic tools are changing how we do spine surgery — and they’re here TODAY! ✅

These devices let me work with incredible precision, removing bone or tissue while protecting the nerves and soft tissue around them. That means smaller incisions, less blood loss, and faster recovery for my patients dealing with spinal stenosis or pinched nerves.

Sadly, no financial ties to this video (🥲) — I just think it’s an amazing example of how innovation is making spine surgery safer and more efficient.

I love seeing where this field is headed and sharing what’s new in spine care. 💡

10/28/2025

MIS Fusion at L4-L5!?🏆Through a dime-sized incision!? 🥰
This isn’t your grandfather’s open fusion. We’re talking smaller incisions, less muscle damage, and faster healing.
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Sadly no financial ties

10/27/2025

Discover the two most common surgeries we perform on the neck: both have a decompression (relieving pressure on nerves); this it is a matter of fusion or motion-preserving replacement (both need to be stabilizing the spine). 🎯
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As a spine surgeon I walk you through each, why it’s done, and what to expect.

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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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