With longer days and plenty of sunshine, most people more actively enjoy the outdoors during the summer months than during any other season. But with this increase in physical activity there is often an increase in injuries, which can put an abrupt end to your summer fun. […]
Accessory Navicular Problems
Achilles Tendon Injuries Overview The achilles tendons are thick, powerful bands of fibrous tissues found at the back of the foot and ankle. This tendon connects your calf muscles to the heel bones and act as a crucial bodily structure that allows you to walk, run and jump. This means that achilles tendons experience high levels of stress, making these injuries quite common. Overuse Injuries The achilles tendon is susceptible to overuse injuries due to its everyday use. This scenario can occur when you’re walking and running during exercise or sporting events. This injury is a problem that many basketball players must be careful of – or any athlete who must jump a lot in their [...]
Achilles Tendon Lengthening Overview The minimally invasive procedure is designed to treat chronic tendonitis and a short or contracted achilles tendon. A series of cuts are made in the tendon so it can stretch and lengthen into a comfortably natural position. Preparation The patient is positioned so the back of the ankle is clearly visible and easily accessible to the surgeon. Anesthesia will be administered after the area is cleaned and sterilized. Treating the Tendon Your surgeon will make several small incisions through the skin, cutting through sections of the achilles tendon in multiple places. This will allow the tendon to stretch out enough without tearing. As you heal during post-surgery care, it will [...]
The Achilles tendon connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heal bone and is the most common injured tendon in the body. […]
Adult Acquired Flatfoot Overview Flatfoot is a collapse of the foot’s arch over time in either one or both of the feet. The bones in the foot may shift out of the proper positioned as the arch collapses causing pain and other unfavorable podiatric conditions. Causes Flatfoot is often caused by a problem with the posterior tibial tendon. This tendon travels from the calf to the inner side of the foot and supports the arch’s overall structure. The arch can collapse if the tendon is weak, injured, or affected by diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Injuries to the foot that cause flatfoot may include fractures, dislocations or ligament damage. Symptoms The collapses arch during the [...]
Ankle Fracture Surgery
Ankle Fusion, Transfibular
Ankle Replacement
Ankle Replacement Surgery Specialists in IL Ankle pain can get in the way of your daily routine. Our busy days require us to constantly be on our feet, putting stress on the bones and ligaments that help support them. If your sore ankle is holding you back, consider an ankle replacement surgery with IBJI specialists so we can get you back to your normal routine. When is Ankle Replacement Surgery Necessary? When over-the-counter medications or lifestyle changes can’t help manage severe ankle pain, it’s time to consider surgery. The most common reason for ankle replacement surgery is to cure any arthritic symptoms around the ankle joint. Ankle arthroplasty (arthroscopic surgery) is a great way to maintain [...]
Ankle replacement surgery is usually a last choice for doctors; however, there are a few types of patients that are good candidates. Typical recipients of ankle replacements have a joint that has been severely damaged by injury, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. […]
Ankle Sprains
If you have been suffering from ankle pain, arthroscopic ankle surgery may be an effective treatment option. This minimally invasive procedure will repair damaged cartilage and help to relieve pain caused by the damaged cartilage. […]
Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair (Ankle) Overview Arthroscopic articular cartilage repair of the ankle is a minimally invasive procedure that’s performed increases the function of a patient’s joint. This surgery stimulates the growth of fibrocartilage in the ankle to regain smooth joint function. Fibrocartilage is a tough, dense, fibrous material typically found in areas where transitional movements need a surface to easily glide over. Expanding the Joint Anesthesia will be given to the patient during the procedure and fluid is injected into the area of focus for a clear view of the ankle joint. To access the joint, our surgeons will make a series of tiny incisions for the arthroscopic camera and surgical tools. Inspection Using the [...]
Arthroscopy of the Ankle Overview Ankle arthroscopy allows a surgeon to accurately identify, diagnose and treat an assortment of conditions in the ankle. An arthroscope can be inserted into the body through an incredibly small, minimally invasive incision. Preparation To begin the procedure, the patient will receive anesthesia and fluid will be pumped into the ankle – expanding the joint – making the joint easier to see. Two small incisions will be made in the skin: one for the arthroscopic camera and the other for surgical repair instruments. Inspection Our surgeons will carefully inspect your ankle for obvious and minor signs of damage. Depending on the current condition, your physician may decide to correct [...]
Ashlee, 37, has to be able to run – fast – on dirt, grass, and artificial turf, even if it’s wet and slippery. She has to start in quick bursts, pivot and stop on a dime. She runs dashes often and trains frequently. But Ashlee isn’t your typical athlete. […]
Arthritis can take many forms, but the most commonly diagnosed is osteoarthritis (OA). (1) Caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage in almost any joint it can result in arthritis related pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion, a feeling of grating in the affected joint, and point tenderness. Worldwide, millions of people are affected by OA; in the US almost 27 million people live with its effects. […]
Bunion Overview This deformity affects the joint at the base of the big toe. It is a bony bump beneath the skin on the inner side of the foot. A bunion starts small, but over time it can grow to become very large. Bunions are more common in women. Causes A bunion develops because of a pressure imbalance in your foot. This imbalance makes your toe joint unstable. The bones of your big toe begin to shift and angle in toward your second toe. Constant pressure causes the head of your metatarsal (the bone at the base of your toe) to become irritated. It gradually enlarges, forming a bump. Risk Factors Wearing high-heeled shoes and wearing [...]
Bunion Correction with Scarf and Akin Osteotomy
Bunionectomy (Chevron Bunionectomy)
Bunionectomy with Wedge Osteotomy
Bunionette Deformity Correction (Distal Fifth Metatarsal Osteotomy)
Bunionette Deformity Correction (Fifth Metatarsal Head Resection)
Bunionette Deformity (Tailor's Bunion)
Calcaneal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
Calcaneal Tongue-Type Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
In early 1964, Cathy Smithers was an aspiring Olympian, skiing the slopes of Vermont with a close-knit group of friends who trained together. Her specialties were slalom, giant slalom and downhill. […]
Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
Charcot's Neuroarthropathy (CN)
Cheilectomy
Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain
Claw Toe
Clubfoot (Talipes Equinovarus)
Commonly called the Achilles tendon, it is known in medical terms as the calcaneal tendon. It is usually the strongest tendon in a person’s body, attaching the 2 muscles in the lower leg to the back of the heel. It is integral in allowing people to walk and move because it facilitates the extension of the foot and pointing of toes. […]
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Corns and Calluses Overview Corns and calluses are patches of rough, thick skin. They often form on the feet because of repeated pressure or unnatural friction from shoes that don’t fit properly. Corns and calluses are similar due to the way the body reacts to protect the skin, however they are two different entirely different conditions. Corns A corn is a small bump, often shaped like a cone, with a hard center. Corns form from the pressure when a bone presses against the skin. They’re often found on the tops, sides, or in between the toes as well as the balls of the feet. A corn may be painful when you press against it, causing the [...]
For more than 40 years, Grayslake resident Dan Chesman, 63, struggled with residual pain from a severe ankle injury he suffered in a toboggan accident as a young man. […]
Debridement of the Achilles Tendon
Diabetic Foot
Orthopedics This Week • Fri, November 15th, 2013 If an orthopedic surgeon has suffered a calcaneous fracture or a needs an ankle replacement, to whom do they turn? Othopedics This Week asked! Leaders in the foot and ankle realm let them know their thoughts on the top North American orthopedic surgeons in their subspecialty. […]
DuVries Arthroplasty
Electromyography (EMG)
Dr. Garo Emerzian is a board-certified podiatric surgeon specializing in foot surgery and reconstructive rear foot and ankle surgery. He has been practicing at IBJI for almost 20+ years, diagnosing and treating both simple and complex foot and ankle conditions. His practice covers a broad spectrum of care from conservative to surgical care for nail disorders, hammer toes, bunions, heel pain, nerve problems, and at foot deformities to fractures and arthritis of the foot and ankle. Dr. Emerzian treats his patients with the same care and attention he would give to his own family. A former Division 1 football player, he sustained foot and ankle injuries which help him fully understand the issues, concerns and treatment associated with these injuries. In addition to his [...]
Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy (EPF)
I ruptured my Achilles in mid January (mid-substance tear). Dr Vora repaired the rupture with sutures within a week. […]
Excision of Mortons Neuromas
Excision of Soft Tissue Masses
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.
Elizabeth Holmes, The Wall Street Journal July 15, 2014 When was the last time you had your foot measured to check your shoe size? […]
First Mtatrsal-Phalangeal Joint (MTP) Arthrodesis
First Mtatrsal-Phalangeal (MTP) Total Joint Replacement
Nothing saps your energy more quickly than sore feet. Whether from over exertion or from an injury, the doctors at Illinois Bone and Joint Institute know that when your feet hurt it’s not just your feet—you feel the hurt from top to bottom. […]
Fixation for LisFranc Injury
Foot and Ankle Treatments With 26 bones, over 100 muscles and tendons, a network of blood vessels and nerves, and 33 joints, the feet and ankles are an incredibly complex aspect of our musculoskeletal system. As the foundation and engine to any ambulatory movements, these intricacies ensure that people have enough strength, flexibility, and durability to survive everyday tasks. How to Choose the Right Foot and Ankle Orthopedist Anyone who has experienced chronic or severe foot pain can attest to how debilitating these conditions can be to everyday life. By utilizing the best foot doctors, you can save yourself time, agony, and frustration that comes with improper diagnosis, poor treatment plans, and failed surgery. IBJI’s foot [...]
Fracture of the Heel Bone (Calcaneus)
Fracture of the Talus
Dr. Carla Gamez is a podiatrist (a medical specialist who diagnoses and treats foot disorders) who provides care for the full spectrum of foot problems, including Sever’s disease, hammer toe, Achilles tendon, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, fractures and diabetic foot infections. She offers patients a range of treatments, from ointments and orthotics (shoe inserts) to physical therapy and cheilectomy, a surgical procedure to clean out arthritic joints and restore the foot to function. Growing up, Dr. Gamez was a runner and played on her high school tennis team. These activities, combined with contending with a broken toe that hadn’t healed properly, sparked her interest in foot care and led her to become a podiatrist. She speaks fluent Spanish and participates in [...]
Gastrocnemius Recession (Endoscopic Approach)
Gastrocnemius Recession (Intramuscular Approach)
Segares has bone spurs removed from ankle Tuesday June 10, 2014 Chicago Fire defender Gonzalo Segares underwent a successful procedure to remove a bone spur from his right ankle on Tuesday. The procedure was performed by Dr. Anand Vora of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. […]
Gout
Gregg Rappe was on his way to high school football practice back in 1973 when a car ran a stop sign and broadsided the motorcycle he was riding. He suffered multiple injuries, the most severe one being his left ankle, which was virtually shattered. […]
Gretchen Jacobs, 55, was starting over. She had two kids in college and had just moved to Chicago from the suburbs. Gretchen knew the bone and joint care she needed was long overdue. […]
Dr. Steven Gross is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at Lake Cook Orthopedics, a division of IBJI. His primary areas of interest include fracture care, sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, management of arthritic conditions of the joints, and joint replacement. Dr. Gross pursued his medical education in the Midwest and on the East Coast, attending medical school at the University of Michigan, then completing his residency at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York, NY. During his residency he was also educated at two of the busiest Level I trauma centers in New York City, obtaining exposure to all aspects of orthopedic care, including operative and non-operative management of a variety of conditions. His training included one- on-one mentoring [...]
Dr. Steven L. Haddad is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treating conditions affecting the foot and ankle, primarily treating arthritic ankle conditions, as well as ankle, hindfoot and midfoot deformity corrections. He also is an expert in sports conditions affecting the foot and ankle. Dr. Haddad is a recognized national and international expert on total ankle replacement procedures. He has been heavily involved in designing a number of US prostheses, and trains surgeons throughout the world on their implantation. Candid discussions concerning recovery and expectations following ankle replacement are critical to long-term patient satisfaction, and are a hallmark of his practice. In the world of sports, Dr. Haddad performs surgery using arthroscopic and other techniques to minimize incisions [...]
Haglund's Deformity Surgery (Resection Method)
If you have pain, stiffness and or limited movement in the joint where your big toe (the hallux), joins your foot, you may be suffering from a form of degenerative arthritis called hallux rigidus. […]
Hallux Rigidus(Stiff Big Toe)
Hammer Toe
Hammertoe Correction (PIP Joint Arthroplasty)
Heel pain is a common problem for runners and athletes. The pain can be localized to the area beneath the heel (plantar fasciitis) or just behind it (Achilles tendinitis). In the first case, the problem is referred to as an inflammation of the […]
High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
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. […]
Dr. Steven Haddad, an Illinois Bone and Joint Institute surgeon practicing in Glenview IL, was one of only six surgeons in the country who had access to a new, upgraded version of the Agility Ankle Prosthesis when it first became available in late 2006. […]
Ingrown Toenails
“I spend time listening to my patients’ concerns and respond with the best treatment options.” Dr. Scott Jacobsen is a podiatrist and had particular experience in treating sports injuries, heel pain, diabetic wounds and performing joint replacement surgery. Dr. Jacobsen provides the latest forms of treatment, including minimally invasive heel pain surgery, new plate and screw technologies and new implants, all of which speed recovery times. His interest in science and working with people led Dr. Jacobsen to become a physician. He chose his specialty after shadowing a podiatrist while he was in college and liking the variety of the physician’s practice and the doctor’s ability to produce immediate improvements in patients’ health. In addition to his practice as a [...]
Jade Ortiz, 17, has been dancing as long as she remembers. She performed in the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker Suite at age 12 and competes all over the country each month. […]
Dr. Steven Jasonowicz is a podiatrist providing diagnosis and treatment for the full spectrum of foot and ankle disorders. He treats fractures, sprains and strains, Achilles and other tendon injuries, plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammer toes and neuromas, as well he provides wound care and limb salvage. His treatment philosophy focuses on the importance of patient education and prevention. Non-operative treatment is emphasized as well as surgical options, when necessary. Jasonowicz is an associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) and is a recent graduate of the prestigious Podiatry residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, IL. Originally from the Barrington area and a Barrington High School graduate, Dr. Jasonowicz is excited to be returning to [...]
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. [...]
Jones Fracture
Jones Fracture Fixation (Intramedullary Screw)
Jones Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
Dr. Ari Kaz is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specialize in treating foot and ankle conditions. Whenever possible, Dr. Kaz performs surgery using arthroscopic and other techniques to minimize incisions and the amount of tissue that must be cut, thus reducing pain and speeding recovery times.A Chicago native, Dr. Kaz sustained an ankle injury while playing high school basketball, and he was so impressed with the doctor that treated him that he decided to become a foot and ankle doctor himself. In providing care, Dr. Kaz takes an individualized approach tailored to each patient’s specific situation and challenges. He takes great care to provide a correct diagnosis, and provides care for the patient as an entire person, rather than treating [...]
Kidner Procedure
Lapidus Procedure for Bunion Correction
Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction
Alan C. League, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle reconstruction. He provides care for the full range of foot and ankle problems. When appropriate, Dr. League offers arthroscopy (minimally invasive surgery) to reduce stress on the patient and speed recovery times. His patients also are able to enjoy the benefits of the major improvements recently made in the prostheses used for ankle replacement. Most patients see Dr. League for treatment of pain of some kind. Often, Dr. League is able to achieve a successful outcome with non-surgical treatments that other physicians haven’t tried. A former wide receiver for the Northwestern University football team, Dr. League personally experienced orthopedic injuries, which led him to his [...]
Dr. Charles Lettvin is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who practices general orthopedics. He sees patients of all ages, from children to older adults, for the range of musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Lettvin has extensive experience in knee and shoulder arthroscopy, ankle arthroscopy, hip and knee replacements and fracture repairs in both the arms and legs. A high school and college basketball player, Dr. Lettvin experienced orthopedic injuries himself as a teenager. His admiration for the doctors who provided care for him and enabled him to resume playing sports led him to want to become an orthopedic surgeon. In providing care, Dr. Lettvin sets out to solve patients’ problems in the least invasive fashion possible. He combines excellent diagnostic abilities with strong [...]
LisFranc (Midfoot) Fracture-Dislocation
Mallet Toe Correction (DIP Joint Arthroplasty)
Medial Calcaneal Sliding Osteotomy
Metatarsalgia
Metatrsal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
