“To have Dr. Benson really restore so much of Ned’s mobility and independence, there’s just no way, we could ever measurably repay him.”  

These are the words of a grateful mother for the exceptional orthopaedic care received for her son Ned Bryant.  Ned was severely injured in a playground accident, suffering from a broken bone, multiple fractures in his arm, vascular trauma and nerve damage. He was rushed to the hospital with his mother where he had to receive multiple surgeries and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

After a couple of days in the intensive care unit, Ned was fairly quiet and a little down, even for someone who had such a traumatic experience.  Dr. Benson decided that a good way to take Ned’s mind off of his injuries would be to bring his dog Chelsea into the hospital to play with Ned.  And it worked; Chelsea gave Ned something else to focus on, something positive to look forward to and aided Ned as a therapy dog.

Ned is making a strong recovery and has regained many of his lost abilities, like zipping up his jacket, playing the piano, or riding his bike. But Ned is particularly happy about one thing he can do again, holding his mom’s hand.  A simple comfort that Ned’s mother is also happy to have regained.

Ned has exhibited a tremendous amount of courage and has embarked on a journey that will only continue to build strength and character in his bright future.

Learn more about his story in the below video.

In Celebration of the Life of Robert M. Patek (March 1, 1957 to September 28, 2012)

He will be missed, but never forgotten.

Robert M. Patek, M.D. Obituary as it appeared in the Chicago Tribune:

Robert "Bob" Patek (1957-2012) is survived by his loving wife Linda (Ivers); daughter Laura; son Tommy; parents Robert and Marjorie; sisters Barbara (Al) and Mary Suzanne (Jim); brothers John (Carol) and Paul (Suanne); his nieces and nephews, and his entire extended family.

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute is awarded accreditation in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

The Ultrasound Practice accreditation Council of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) is pleased to announce that the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound practice of Illinois Bone and Joint Institute (IBJI) has been awarded accreditation from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. The AIUM is a multidisciplinary association of more than 8,900 physicians, sonographers, and scientists dedicated to advancing the safe and effective use of ultrasound in medicine through professional and public education, research, development of guidelines and accreditation.

IBJI achieved this recognition by meeting rigorous voluntary guidelines set by the diagnostic ultrasound profession. All facets of the practice were assessed, including the training and qualifications of physicians and sonographers; ultrasound equipment and maintenance; documentation, storage and record-keeping practices; policies and procedures to protect patients and staff; quality assurance methods; and the thoroughness, technical quality and interpretation of the sonograms the practice performs.

The Physician Director of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, William J. Arnold, M.D. FACP, MACR and Associate Director, Erin L. Arnold, M.D. FACR are AIUM members who have over 10 years experience in performing diagnostic and interventional ultrasound procedures for patients with arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases. Drs. Arnold are both pleased and proud that IBJI is only the 4th practice in the USA to receive accreditation in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound from the AIUM. “The accreditation of our ultrasound practice at IBJI sends a clear message to insurance companies, government and regulators that we are committed to providing the highest quality of musculoskeletal ultrasound services to our patients. We are excited for IBJI to be a leader in the development and implementation of this valuable technology for patients with arthritis” said Dr. William Arnold.

Congratulations To Dr. Steven Mardjetko

On March 7^th one of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institutes spine specialists, Dr. Mardjetko was named as one of the 207 Spine Surgeons and Specialists to know by Becker’s Orthopedic, Spine & Pain Management Review. Dr. Mardjetko was selected for the list based on his research into spine care, his professional accomplishments, and his leadership in IBJI's spine care. With thousands of spine specialists currently working in the country, being named as one of the top 207 is quite an honor.

Dr. Mardjetko's Many Accomplishments

At IBJI Dr. Steven Mardjetko is a specialist in spinal deformities in adults and children, pediatric orthopedics, and spinal surgery. He has focused closely on cervical spine disorders, injuries to the spinal cord, and scoliosis and other general disorders of the spine. He is a fellow at the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and the Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Mardjetko has a medical degree from the University of Illinois Medical School where he graduated with Honors. He has also completed two fellowships in pediatric orthopedics and spinal deformity and reconstruction at the Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center right here in Chicago.

IBJI Glenview-Wilmette was proud to sponsor the 109th Western Amateur Championship at the North Shore Country Club this August. The Western Amateur Championship has been a western tradition for over a century and has produced some of the biggest names in professional golf, including Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

Illinois Bone and Joint-GW has for several years been an enthusiastic supporter of the Western Amateur Association. IBJI’s support of the championship has not only been limited to sponsorship, but our very own physician emeritus, Dr. Philip FitzSimons serves as a chairman to the Tournament Committee.

Several of our physicians are avid golf players and take particular interest in seeing patients with sports-related injuries. Their experience with the game, both on the field and in the clinic provides for a well-rounded diagnosis and treatment plan unique to IBJI Physicians that allows for a more individualized visit with the patient.

Chicago – July, 2011 – Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review, one of the nation’s leading Orthopedic publications, included Dr’s Wayne Goldstein, Matthew Jimenez, James Kudrna and Van Stamos on the"70 Outstanding Hip Surgeons and Specialists" list.

Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review is a publication focusing on orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, and sports medicine. The primary contributors and audience for the publication is orthopedic and spine surgeons.

Each year the publication does extensive research and gathers recommendations from around the country to find orthopedic physicians displaying leadership by leading and contributing to research and development of orthopedic implants. Once the list is compiled, it is vetted through the most well-respected hip surgeons in the United States to come up with the 70 most influential physicians in the field of hip replacement.

With nearly 90 orthopedic physicians specializing in over 25 clinical areas, the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute (IBJI) is the leading provider of orthopedic, rheumatologic, or podiatric services in the Chicago-land area. If you would like more information about orthopedic surgery or any of the surgeons recognized, contact Andy Salmen by calling 847-720-7007 or by emailing him at asalmen@ibji.com. 

Dr. Jimenez’ painting is to be included in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon’s traveling exhibition entitled “Wounded in Action: An Art Exhibition of Orthopaedic Advancements”. His painting will be among art created by military personnel, civilians affected by war, family members of fallen soldiers and orthopaedic surgeons who treat the wounded. A celebration of “strength and spirit”, the art will be exhibited in New Orleans, Washington DC and Baltimore between March and November 2010. Click here for exhibition details.

After Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake in January, IBJI therapists, physicians, and staff were eager to help the victims in a practical way.  We decided to team up with Share Your Soles, Inc., a Chicago-based non-profit organization that donates shoes to the needy.

For two weeks, IBJI hosted a company-wide "Shoes for Haiti" shoe drive, asking staff and patients alike to donate their new and gently-used shoes and sandals, to be sent immediately to Haiti. The response was amazing-- a total of 504 pairs of shoes were collected!  They were then delivered to Share Your Soles' headquarters, after which they were flown immediately to Haiti. We were truly touched by the success of the drive, and we are proud to know that those shoes are now being used by many of the Haitians most seriously affected by the disaster.

Dr. Matthew Jimenez is featured in an article of Orthopedics This Week as an example of a successful orthopedic specialist. Read the full article.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, Dr. Brian Donahue (IBJI Arlington Heights) watched the news reports of the 7.0 earthquake that devastated much of Haiti. Less than two weeks later, he boarded a plane bound for Haiti by theDominican Republic. Like many other volunteers, he went for the simple reason that he knew he could help. For 10 days that is what he did.View complete article.

Read Chicago Collection’s article on Hip and Knee replacements, featuring IBJI surgeon David Beigler.

The nine IBJI rheumatologists (Drs. Erin Arnold, William Arnold, Alfonso Bello, Gerald Eisenberg, Ami Kothari, Mary Moran,Amanda Myers, Patrick Schuette, and John Skosey) recently made a generous donation to RheumPAC, the political action committee of The American College of Rheumatology (ACR).  By facilitating meetings with members of Congress and educating lawmakers on rheumatology-related issues, RheumPAC ensures that such issues are not forgotten in the healthcare debate and enhances the ACR’s influence in policy decisions.  The IBJI physicians’ contribution illustrates their commitment to fostering the ACR’s advocacy role on behalf of rheumatology patients.

IBJI  foot and ankle specialist Dr. Amy Jo Ptaszek, who sees patients in Glenview and Wilmette, was interviewed for the “Fashion and Style” section of  Make It Better , a North Shore publication and e-mail newsletter aimed at women.  The resulting article, titled "Happy Feet", gives solid advice on choosing stylish footwear. View complete article.

Dr. Ira Kornblatt’s intervierw in the August/September issue of Chicago Life.  Dr. Kornblatt talks with physician-writer Cory Franklin, M.D., about how orthopaedics has changed and what the future holds. Read full article.

In the June 2009 issue of Fitness Magazine, IBJI podiatrist Megan Leahy provided guidance on summertime footwear.

In the magazine’s “Health Q&A” column, she answers the question “Can flip-flops damage my feet?”  According to Dr. Leahy, the answer is yes.

“Any shoe that makes the telltale flip, flip, flip sound is letting you know that injury is almost inevitable.  Flip-flops don’t properly support your arches, and they strain your toes by keeping them in constant grip mode.  ‘Even a slight misstep can lead to a fracture or sprain, and if you wear them for more than two hours a day, tendinitis, fasciitis and myositis – all painful foot injuries – are a real possibility,’ says Megan Leahy, D.P.M, a podiatrist in Chicago.  It’s best to save your flip-flops for the beach, the locker room or a backyard barbecue or for when you know you’ll be treading flat terrain for less than two hours.” (Fitness Magazine, June 2009 Issue, page 104)

Dr. Anand Vora, practicing primarily in IBJI’s Libertyville office, performed the first total ankle replacement surgery in Lake County in the fall of 2008.  A board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle disorders and injuries, Dr. Vora used a newer generation ankle replacement device.  The new implant is more like a normal ankle joint and requires less bone removal than previous versions of the device.  Those two features - the anatomical similarity and the preservation of natural bone – result in a replacement that moves more like a “normal” ankle.  “The advances in the technology are exciting,” says Dr. Vora, “because it translates to better post-surgical outcomes for the patients.  And really, it’s the improvement in patient’s health that is gratifying to me as a physician.”

The photographs of IBJI surgeon Dr. Michael Lewis will be the focus of an exhibit at Ryerson Woods (Deerfield, IL) between September 24th and November 2nd. The exhibition, titled "One World: A View of Seven Continents" is an expanded version of his award-winning book, One World: A View of 50 Countries. Dr. Lewis will sign copies of his book at an opening reception; see below for reception information.

Both the exhibit and the reception are open to the public. For complete information, go to http://www.ryersonwoods.org/p/programs.html.

Watch Dr. O'Rourke talk about total joint replacement in an August 2008 interview on CNN Newsmakers.

Hockey player gets back on the ice after IBJI surgeon performs hip resurfacing. Watch as Tom is joined by his surgeon Dr. Rubinstein in a game.

The US contingent has just returned from the International Triathlon Union World Championships held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Despite very cold and rainy conditions, this was one of the more successful championships in many years. Andrew Hunt, MD, served as the Head Team Physician for the US squad as part of his duties as Medical Director for USA Triathlon, a post he has held since 2005. Team USA encompassed the Elite Men's and Women's teams, some of whose members will also compete for the US Olympic Team in Beijing this summer. Also included on the Vancouver team were the National Junior, U-23 squads, and top age-group amateurs competing for their respective world titles.

Dr. Hunt is a Sports Medicine physician with the Glenview/Wilmette division of Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. He has been on the medical staff for the Pan American Games in Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil since 2007. He also currently serves as Head Team physician for several local high schools and is an Assistant Team Physician for Northwestern University Athletics. Get more information about sports medicine at IBJI.