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 patents, less invasive surgical techniques, instruments and implants for patients from across the world seeking consultations and traveling from far and near for surgery. Dr. Chudik is regularly consulted on complex shoulder, knee, and sports injury cases.
What Makes a Specialty Surgery Different
Dr. Chudik specializes in surgery for complex problems and has developed many of his own specific techniques to address problems where the standard of care falls short. He specializes in procedures for recurrent shoulder dislocations, difficult rotator cuff tears, complex ACL and other multiligament injuries, recurrent patellar dislocations, muscle sparing robotic knee replacement surgery, rotator cuff (subscapularis) tissue sparing shoulder replacement surgery and more. These cases require advanced preoperative planning, experience with complicated anatomy, and surgical techniques that often did not exist until Dr. Chudik 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 is needed.
Procedures Developed by Dr. Chudik
Dr. Chudik developed several surgical procedures to address clinical problems that existing techniques did not.
Tunnelless Elbow UCL Reconstruction Surgery
An anatomic reconstruction technique for treating torn or incompetent ulnar collateral ligaments (UCL) in overhead throwing athletes. Unlike traditional UCL reconstruction (“Tommy John surgery”), which requires drilling bone tunnels to secure the graft, Dr. Chudik’s tunnel-less technique attaches the graft to the surface of the bone, preserving bone strength, restoring the ligament’s native anatomy, and reducing the risk of bone tunnel-related complications.
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 non-anatomical reconstruction techniques, such as the Latarjet, with higher risks of complications and arthritis.
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 pediatric skeletally immature athletes. Traditional ACL reconstruction techniques risk damaging open growth plates and can cause growth disturbances. 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 to have surgery and return to sports. Non-operative treatment and delay in surgical treatment has also shown to be unsuccessful and results in re-injury, meniscus tears and poor outcomes.
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.
Due to the need for bone grafting and old tunnels, ACL revision surgery often requires two staged surgeries and requires 1½ to 2 years before return to sport and activities. Dr. Chudik prefers to do ACL revision in one single stage procedure requiring the same recovery time as a one “first time” successful ACL surgery.
Patellar (Kneecap) Stabilization
A surgical approach for recurrent patellar dislocation, an anatomical approach designed to successfully stabilize the patella despite all variable anatomic factors — trochlear dysplasia, patella alta, abnormal tibial tubercle position, and soft tissue laxity that may be contributing to the patella dislocations (instability).
Other Specialty Procedures
Dr. Chudik performs additional specialty procedures for complex cases, including:
- Total Knee Arthroplasty / Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty – Robot-Assisted (MAKOplasty®)
- Complex Shoulder Instability Surgery (bone loss, failed prior repair, multidirectional instability)
- Patellar (Kneecap) Dislocation
- SLAP and superior labral tears in overhead athletes
- Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (RTSA)
- Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Rotator Cuff Sparing Technique (Developed by Dr. Chudik)
- Meniscus Repair
- Anterolateral Ligament (ALL) Reconstruction
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Reconstruction
- Superior Capsular Reconstruction for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears
- Tendon Graft Augmentation for Massive Rotator Cuff Repairs
- Tendon Transfer for Irreparable Subscapularis Tears
- Complex Knee Reconstruction
- Cartilage Repair & Transplantation (Autograft and Allograft)
- Shoulder Arthroplasty
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 and preferred when clinically reasonable. When treatment is recommended, Dr. Chudik explains his recommendations, alternatives, specific techniques, recovery time and expected outcomes.
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-surgery recovery. Dr. Chudik provides detailed patient specific post operative physical therapy protocols to ensure the best treatment and outcomes.
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:
- Pediatric ACL injuries
- Complex ACL and other ligament injuries
- Failed prior ACL surgery
- Recurrent shoulder instability with bone loss
- Rotator cuff tears
- SLAP /Labral Tears
- Recurrent patellar dislocations and instability
- Meniscal tears
- Failed rotator cuff surgery
- Complex cartilage defects
- 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, email contactus@chudikmd.com or request an appointment online. Please bring all prior medical records, imaging studies (on disc or digital media), and previous operative reports to your visit.
Specialty Care in the Chicago Area
Dr. Chudik treats patients at two key offices across the western Chicago suburbs: Westmont and Western Springs. His facilities are state of the art and offer on-site X-ray imaging, high-field MRI, physical and occupational therapy, and surgical care. Patients travel from across the United States and around the world to seek Dr. Chudik’s expertise. Virtual telehealth visits are available for long-distance patients.