Some orthopaedic conditions fall outside the scope of standard surgical care. Complex injuries, failed prior surgeries, significant tissue loss, pediatric cases with active growth plates, and high-demand patients who need durable reconstruction all require a surgeon with the experience to plan and execute procedures that are anything but routine.
Dr. Steven Chudik has built his practice around these cases. Over more than twenty years in orthopaedic surgery, he has developed multiple surgical techniques now used by surgeons internationally, holds eight orthopaedic patents, and has one arthroscopic joint resurfacing technique currently available in Europe and awaiting FDA approval in the United States. He is a US News & World Report Top Doctor in orthopaedics and is regularly consulted on complex shoulder, knee, and sports injury cases.
What Makes a Specialty Surgery Different
Specialty surgeries are not higher-risk versions of standard procedures. They address pathology that standard procedures were never designed to handle: bone loss after recurrent shoulder dislocation, massive rotator cuff tears with irreparable tendon, failed ACL grafts with compromised bone tunnels, multi-ligament knee injuries, ACL injuries in skeletally immature athletes, and complex revision arthroplasty. These cases require advanced preoperative planning, comfort with non-standard anatomy, and surgical techniques that often did not exist until a surgeon developed them in response to a clinical need.
Dr. Chudik’s approach to specialty surgery is built on the same principle that guides his development work: standard techniques are starting points, and when they fall short, a better option needs to be built.
Procedures Developed by Dr. Chudik
The following procedures were developed by Dr. Chudik to address clinical problems that existing techniques did not solve well.
Arthroscopic Biologic Total Shoulder Resurfacing
A minimally invasive arthroscopic alternative to traditional shoulder replacement that preserves bone stock and the rotator cuff while resurfacing the joint. Intended for patients who need joint replacement but benefit from preserving native anatomy for durability and future options.
Arthroscopic Total Shoulder Resurfacing
A fully arthroscopic joint resurfacing procedure currently available in Europe and awaiting FDA approval in the United States. Represents the most minimally invasive approach to shoulder joint replacement developed to date.
Arthroscopic Bony Bankart Repair and Glenoid Reconstruction
An arthroscopic technique for addressing recurrent anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss — a problem that historically required open surgery with larger incisions and more soft-tissue disruption.
Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Separation Repair and Reconstruction
A technique for reconstructing the ligaments that stabilize the AC joint following high-grade separations, designed to restore stability while minimizing the risk of hardware-related complications.
Arthroscopic Proximal Humerus Greater Tuberosity Fracture Repair
An arthroscopic approach to a fracture pattern that traditionally required open surgery. Allows repair of the greater tuberosity while preserving surrounding soft tissue.
Arthroscopic Pediatric (Growth-Plate-Sparing) ACL Reconstruction
An ACL reconstruction technique designed for skeletally immature athletes. Traditional ACL reconstruction techniques risk damaging open growth plates and can cause limb-length discrepancies. Dr. Chudik’s technique reconstructs the ACL without crossing the growth plates, allowing young athletes to be treated at the time of injury rather than waiting years for skeletal maturity.
Arthroscopic Revision ACL Reconstruction
A technique for revising failed ACL reconstructions, which are complicated by compromised bone tunnels, graft fixation challenges, and altered knee biomechanics from the prior surgery.
Patellar (Kneecap) Stabilization
A surgical approach for recurrent patellar instability, designed to address the specific anatomic factors — trochlear dysplasia, patella alta, abnormal tibial tubercle position — that drive recurrent dislocation.
Other Specialty Procedures
Dr. Chudik performs additional specialty procedures for complex cases, including:
- Complex Shoulder Instability Surgery (bone loss, failed prior repair, multidirectional instability)
- Superior Capsular Reconstruction for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears
- Tendon Graft Augmentation for Massive Rotator Cuff Repairs
- Pectoralis Major Tendon Transfer for Irreparable Subscapularis Tears
- Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (RTSA)
- Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty
- Multi-Ligament Knee Reconstruction
- Meniscus Transplantation
- Cartilage Transplantation (Autograft and Allograft)
- Anterolateral Ligament (ALL) Reconstruction
- Revision Knee Arthroplasty
- Tunnelless Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Reconstruction
- Robot-Assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (MAKOplasty®)
How Specialty Surgery Is Determined
Candidacy for specialty surgery is determined after thorough evaluation, not from diagnosis alone. Two patients with the same diagnosis can have different optimal treatment paths based on tissue quality, prior surgical history, age, activity level, and functional goals.
Dr. Chudik’s evaluation process includes a detailed clinical history, focused physical examination, review of all prior imaging and operative records, and, when needed, advanced imaging studies. Non-surgical options are discussed when clinically reasonable. When surgery is recommended, the conversation includes the specific technique Dr. Chudik plans to use, the reasoning behind that choice, the alternatives, and the recovery expectations.
Surgical Approach and Recovery
Many specialty procedures are performed arthroscopically or through minimally invasive approaches, which reduces soft-tissue disruption, post-operative pain, and scarring. Some cases — particularly complex fractures, revision arthroplasty, and multi-ligament reconstructions — require open or combined surgical approaches.
Recovery timelines for specialty procedures vary widely depending on the specific procedure, the extent of underlying pathology, and individual patient factors. Rehabilitation is a critical component of outcomes and is coordinated with physical therapy colleagues experienced in post-surgical sports medicine and orthopaedic recovery.
Why Patients Are Referred for Specialty Surgery
Patients are referred to Dr. Chudik for specialty surgery by general orthopaedists, primary care physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and prior patients. Referrals most commonly involve:
- Failed prior ACL or rotator cuff surgery
- Recurrent shoulder instability with bone loss
- Massive or irreparable rotator cuff tears
- Pediatric ACL injuries
- Multi-ligament knee injuries
- Complex cartilage defects
- Revision arthroplasty
- Athletes with sport-specific functional demands
Request a Specialty Consultation
If you have been told your case is complex, that your prior surgery has failed, or that standard options do not apply to your situation, schedule a consultation. Call 630-324-0402 or request an appointment online. Please bring all prior medical records, imaging studies (on disc or digital media), and operative reports to your visit.
Specialty Care in the Chicago Area
Dr. Chudik sees patients at four offices across the western Chicago suburbs: Westmont, Western Springs, Hinsdale, and Downers Grove. Specialty consultations are typically scheduled at the Westmont office, where on-site high-field MRI and X-ray imaging support same-day diagnostic workup when needed. Patients travel to the practice from across the Chicago metropolitan area, northwest Indiana, and the broader Midwest for specialty orthopaedic care.