Luke Zabawa, MD

Luke M. Zabawa, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute specializing in adult hip and knee reconstruction. His practice focuses on muscle-sparing direct anterior total hip replacement, technology-assisted total knee replacement using functional alignment, and complex revision hip and knee surgery, supported by Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols designed to ease pain and shorten recovery.

He believes every patient deserves a treatment plan built around their goals, anatomy, and the activities they love. His clinical philosophy is straightforward: combine the most accurate surgical techniques available with the kind of personal attention he would want for his own family.

After graduating with Honors from Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Zabawa earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago, serving as Chief Resident and receiving the Riad Barmada, MD Award for Academic Achievement, the Robert D. Ray, MD, PhD Orthopedic Research Award, and the Leo Weinstein, MD Award for Excellence in Patient Care. He then completed a fellowship in Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction at The Carrell Clinic in Dallas, one of the highest-volume adult reconstruction practices in the country.

His clinical interests include direct anterior total hip replacement, technology-assisted total knee replacement using functional alignment, unicompartmental knee replacement, complex revision hip and knee arthroplasty, and the management of periprosthetic joint infection. Advanced technologies, including computer navigation and robotic-assisted surgery, are incorporated when they represent the best solution for a patient's specific needs. Combined with modern ERAS protocols, these techniques help improve surgical precision while supporting a faster recovery.

A member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Dr. Zabawa has authored peer-reviewed publications in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Injury, The Journal of Arthroplasty, and other leading orthopedic journals. He also remains actively involved in clinical research and resident education. Outside of the clinic and operating room, he enjoys playing soccer and tennis. He and his wife also love discovering new restaurants and traveling the world together, always in search of the next great meal and the next memorable destination.