Paul Caldwell was returning home one evening last spring when a reckless driver nearly ended his life. As Paul crossed Sheridan Road on Chicago’s far north side, the motorist ran a red light. Paul remembers the sound of tires screeching just before the car hit him. His injuries were severe. One ankle was badly damaged, as were both arms. […]
Arthroscopic Debridement Of The Elbow Overview Arthroscopic debridement of the elbow is an outpatient procedure aimed to correct any outstanding issues within the elbow joint’s bones, ligaments and tendons. Preparation The elbow will be numbed with a local anesthetic injection, as the patient will receive either general anesthesia or sedatives. The Examination First, the surgeon will inject fluid into the elbow to expand the joint. This will allow a clear view of the joint so the surgeon can easily maneuver around and within the elbow. He or she will then search for signs of damage with an arthroscope. Repairing the Joint Upon diagnosis, the surgeon will use minimally invasive arthroscopic tools to repair the [...]
Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
Dr. Taizoon H. Baxamusa, FACS, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery. He specializes in the treatment of hand conditions, including arthritis, nerve compression, fractures and lacerations. He also treats shoulder and elbow conditions, including diseases of the tendon such as tennis elbow and rotator cuff tears. He provides joint replacement surgery and offers minimally invasive surgery, including small joint arthroscopy. He seeks to make sure his patients understand their condition so they can be part of the treatment process. He is mindful that his job is not finished upon completing a patient’s surgery, but extends through recovery. He chose to specialize in orthopedics because of the satisfaction he receives from returning patients to normal [...]
Dr. Leon S. Benson began his medical career began in Evanston, Illinois, the town where he was born and raised. After graduating as valedictorian of his high school class, he continued as a chemistry major at Northwestern University. In 1981, he began medical school at Northwestern University in downtown Chicago and completed a five-year residency in orthopedic surgery at Northwestern before pursuing an extra year of specialty training in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at Harvard. Dr. Benson returned from Boston in 1991 and has practiced with the same orthopedic group ever since. Dr. Benson is currently Chief of the Division of Hand Surgery at NorthShore University HealthSystem, which is a four-hospital system in the northern Chicago suburbs and includes [...]
Biceps Tendonitis (at the Elbow)
“It’s gratifying to see someone benefit from our care, to return from injury to the things they enjoy in life.” Dr. Kevin Chen is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand, wrist and upper extremity surgery of the shoulder and elbow. He completed his fellowship training at a major trauma center in Milwaukee and offers a full range of care for both common and complex conditions. He treats arthritic and chronic conditions as well as rotator cuff tears, shoulder and elbow instability, tennis and golfers elbow, repetitive motion injuries including carpal tunnel syndrome and sports injuries. Dr. Chen is among a small percentage of surgeons trained in complex elbow replacement surgery, a technique that has improved dramatically in recent years. He [...]
Dr. Chiu is an expert in sports medicine, specializing in advanced, minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures of the knee, hip, shoulder and elbow, using cutting edge techniques in cartilage repair and restoration, complex ligament reconstruction, and joint preservation. He has served as faculty teaching other orthopedic surgeons at national courses, presented at numerous academic meetings, conducted research, authored articles, published in peer reviewed journals, and written book chapters on various topics and advanced surgical techniques. As a sports team physician and in working with elite international and professional athletes, Dr. Chiu has the experience to treat adult and pediatric athletes at all levels and draws on a full armamentarium- from injury prevention and rehabilitation, performance enhancement and orthoBiologic therapy, to arthroscopic [...]
Dr. Cummins joined Lake Cook Orthopedics, a Division of Illinois Bone & Joint Institute Associates in August of 2001 and has developed an orthopedic practice with a primary focus on the management of shoulder disorders and sports-related issues. He is currently a team physician for Barrington High School, since 2001, and a team physician for Lake Zurich High School, since 2002. He is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and is one of less than 5% of orthopedic surgeons with an additional board certification in sports medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine, and the Arthroscopy Association of North America. He has served as an instructor for the Arthroscopy Association [...]
CT Scan (Computed Tomorgraphy; CAT Scan)
Cubital Tunnel Release at the Elbow
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
For many, golf is a relaxing game that allows us to have a little fun on the weekend, and get some much needed exercise. There’s nothing like hitting the greens with a couple of friends (or even just the driving range) and perfecting your game. […]
Dr. Serafin DeLeon is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery. He specializes in treating conditions of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder such as arthritis, fractures and other traumatic injuries, nerve compression, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Dr. DeLeon also has advanced training and experience in the care of sports injuries and treats athletes of all ages, including college and professional athletes. In most cases ,Dr. DeLeon is able to offer arthroscopy or other minimally invasive procedures, which decrease patient discomfort and speed recovery times. He also offers patients injections with platelet- rich plasma to stimulate tissue healing. In providing care, Dr. DeLeon looks at the patient as a whole, treating the person, not merely the [...]
Chronic Elbow Pain Injuries and bodily pain are unique to each individual. When discussing the potential causes of your elbow pain, you should never be satisfied with the “just a sore elbow” response. Elbow pain can occur in both athletes and non-athletes. Different actions can create various types of injury. IBJI’s dedicated physicians and staff won’t rule out any possible cause of your elbow pain. We find the perfect treatment for your concern, helping you throughout your recovery journey. When You Should See a Doctor for Elbow Pain Overuse of the elbow is one of the chief causes of elbow and joint pain. Without proper care, these nagging symptoms can manifest into long-term problems. To prevent common [...]
Elbow Bursitis
Elbow bursitis is a painful condition that is actually an inflammation of the olecranon bursa. The bursas are small fluid filled sacs in the back of your elbow […]
The Elbow Joint Explained Like the joints in your fingers the elbow is considered a hinge joint, which means that it allows for motion forward and back (flexion and extension) with very minimal twisting. The elbow joins together three bones, […]
Growth Plate Injuries of the Elbow
Dr. James Hill is a fellowship-trained, board-certified member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is committed to the highest quality of care in the treatment of joint disease, sports injuries and trauma to the musculoskeletal system. He is particularly interested in problems involving the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee. Dr. Hill believes in personalized, individual treatment plans for his patients, incorporating all forms of proven, non-operative treatment into patient care before considering surgical options. He completed a fellowship specializing in complex shoulder and elbow reconstruction at the prestigious California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, California. There, he helped develop innovative surgical treatment for rotator cuff injuries as well as shoulder and elbow instability problems, arthroscopic techniques, joint replacement [...]
Dr. Hoepfner is dual board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and in hand and upper extremity surgery. He has published numerous articles in leading medical journals and serves as an instructor of hand injuries for the national hand surgery organization where he teaches the most current techniques in treating complex wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries. Dr. Hoepfner was on the Northwestern University Medical School faculty and holds a patent for an implant in thumb arthritis. Whether using a surgical or nonsurgical approach, the appropriate treatment is tailored to each patient. As an expert in open and arthroscopic surgery, Dr. Hoepfner also specializes in carpal tunnel release, cubital tunnel release, sports injuries, fractures, dislocations, arthritis, tennis elbow, and complex elbow and wrist reconstruction. [...]
Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
Matthew L. Jimenez, M.D., FACS is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in joint and pelvis reconstruction, specializing in orthopedic fracture care and joint reconstruction. His patient-centered focus is on soft-tissue preservation and rapid recovery. He has a special interest and expertise in the Direct Anterior Approach for total hip arthroplasty. Dr. Jimenez received his M.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1989 after completing his undergraduate training at the University of Utah. After earning his medical degree, Dr. Jimenez completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Northwestern University. He then completed a one-year post graduate fellowship in orthopaedic trauma and joint reconstruction at the University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Medical Center, under the direction of Dr. Marvin Tile. [...]
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
Medial Apophysitis
Medial Epicondylectomy
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow)
Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Dr. Nathan Wetters is a fellowship-trained physician specializing in Sports Medicine, with special focus on minimally invasive treatment of the knee and shoulder including cartilage transplant and restoration. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Arthroscopy Association of North America and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Dr. Wetters obtained both his undergraduate degree and Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois. He went on to complete his Orthopaedic training at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago before further specializing in Sports Medicine and Shoulder & Elbow surgery at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has served as a Team Physician for both the Carolina Panthers (NFL) and Chicago White Sox (MLB). He has [...]
These are the words of a grateful mother for the exceptional orthopedic care received for her son Ned Bryant. […]
Dr. David Norbeck joined Lake Cook Orthopedics, a Division of Illinois Bone & Joint Institute in 1989 as a general orthopedist treating all orthopedic problems. After performing orthopedic surgery for 25 years, Dr. Norbeck now works to treat orthopedic problems non-operatively. He maintains full medical staff privileges at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Illinois and is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He is also a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Norbeck is a native of the western suburbs of Chicago. He is married with two children and enjoys reading non-fiction. He went back to school in 2012 for a Masters in Theological Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and now serves in [...]
Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow
Osteomyelitis
Overuse Injuries of the Elbow
Dr. Surbhi Panchal is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship trained in Hand & Upper extremity surgery. Specializing in disorders and treatment of the hand, wrist, elbow and arm, she supports a balance of conservative and surgical measures to achieve optimal results for each patient. “Achieving this balance means a unique discussion and treatment plan for each patient to ensure the best possible outcome,” she notes. In 2013, after completing hand and upper extremity fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth Medical Center, Dr. Panchal joined Lake Cook Orthopedics, a division of IBJI. She is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the Ruth Jackson Society and the [...]
Paul Caldwell was returning home one evening last spring when a reckless driver nearly ended his life. […]
Dr. Djuro Petkovic is a board-eligible orthopedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, and Sports Medicine. In his practice he addresses primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty including the reverse shoulder arthroplasty, a relatively new procedure that is useful in cases of irreparable rotator cuff tears, severe deformity, and fracture. He also specializes in shoulder arthroscopy, rotator cuff disease, shoulder instability, elbow pathology and knee injuries. “Every patient in my clinic is an active participant in their health, and with their input I create a customized treatment plan for their musculoskeletal problem,” he notes. Having grown up in the Chicago area, Dr. Petkovic did not always know he was going to be a physician. He went to the east coast [...]
Dr. Craig Phillips is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty certification in hand and upper extremity surgery, who specializes in treating the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. His practice focuses on all conditions affecting the arms with common conditions such as hand and wrist fractures, wrist arthritis, nerve problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tears, shoulder arthritis and shoulder replacements. He offers all current treatments but prefers minimally invasive surgery such as the use of the medication Xiaflex for treatment of Dupuytren’s disease. Dr. Phillips takes a conservative approach that utilizes surgery as a last resort only after options such as braces and injections have been exhausted. In each case, he seeks to provide empathetic care and [...]
PRP Therapy (Overview) Overview Platelet rich plasma therapy can help injured joints and other problems. It uses parts of your own blood to reduce pain and speed up healing. Can it Help Me? PRP may help if you have: Achilles Tendon tears or Plantar Fasciitis in your foot, meniscus tears in your knee, rotator cuff tears in your shoulder and injuries in your spine, hip or elbow. Benefits of PRP Parts of your body have a hard time healing. For example, ligaments and tendons (they connect bones and muscles) don't get much blood from the body. Sprains and strains of these tissues heal slowly. PRP uses your own blood to speed up the healing in these [...]
Radial Tunnel Release at the Elbow
Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of of the Radial Nerve)
The muscle in the upper part of the arm, called the bicep, allows you to rotate you arm at the shoulder and bend your arm at the elbow. […]
Dr. Christian Skjong is an orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery. Treating adults, adolescents and children, Dr. Skjong sees many patients with sports-related injuries to the hand, wrist, arm or elbow. Among his specialties are microvascular surgery and small joint replacement. He also treats patients with carpel tunnel syndrome and Dupuytren’s Contracture. A native of Minnesota, Dr. Skjong earned his bachelor of arts in biology at Carleton College before moving to Chicago to study at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at University of Chicago Medical Center and his fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School in Providence, [...]
What Is Tennis Elbow? Lateral epicondylitis, which is more commonly known as “Tennis Elbow”, usually is first felt when the elbow becomes sore and tender. Usually the pain is especially felt when the patient tries to extend their arm completely. Typically either repetitive motion or a sudden injury, like a hyperextension or a pull on the lower arm, can lead to tennis elbow. Either way it is caused, damage has been done to the tendon that attaches to the lateral epicondyle, which is a bony prominence on the outside of the elbow. The typical symptoms of tennis elbow are: Outer elbow pain Stiffness, especially early in the day Pain when grasping an item or moving the wrist Extending the [...]
Throwing Injuries of the Elbow
Tennis elbow is not exclusive to active tennis players, in fact it’s possible for people who are not very active to develop inflammation in the elbow area. […]
Triceps Tendonitis
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury
Ulnar Nerve Transposition at the Elbow
A founding member of Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, Dr. Jeffrey L. Visotsky is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery. He specializes in hand, elbow and shoulder reconstruction procedures. Dr. Visotsky performs rotator cuff repairs, shoulder instability reconstruction, primary and reverse shoulder replacement, tennis elbow surgery, and all hand procedures, including reconstruction, reimplementation and carpal tunnel surgery. When medically appropriate, Dr. Visotsky provides advanced treatments including arthroscopy and the use of platelet-rich plasma injections to stimulate tissue healing. In many cases, Dr. Visotsky is able to treat patients successfully using non-surgical methods. His goal is to restore each patient back to the normal function in their activities of daily living and sports. Dr. Visotsky has been [...]
What are a triceps? Located at the back of the upper arm, originating at the shoulder and stretching down to the forearm, the triceps muscle is in charge of straightening the elbow as well as aiding in shoulder movements. […]
Dr. Craig Williams is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery. He provides care for traumatic, degenerative, arthritic, and pediatric conditions of the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand. Dr. Williams also treats compressive neuropathies and performs post-traumatic reconstruction. He provides advanced treatments, including arthroscopy of the wrist, the use of platelet rich plasma to treat tennis elbow and the use of the medication Xiaflex as a non-surgical alternative for treatment of Dupuytren’s disease. Dr. Williams is a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and the New Millennium Hand Study Group. He is a cyclist and plays hockey weekly. His enjoyment of these activities gives him an added appreciation of the importance of [...]
