Orthopaedic injuries are not exclusive to sports. More than 30 million people are injured each year in and around their homes, in motor vehicle accidents, and at work. These injuries share a pattern: they are sudden, often high-energy, and they frequently carry complications — insurance paperwork, employer coordination, legal documentation, and return-to-work decisions — that a standard orthopaedic visit is not built to handle.
Dr. Steven Chudik treats the full range of accident-related and work-related orthopaedic injuries to the shoulder, knee, elbow, and ankle. He is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon, a certified independent medical examiner, and has worked with workers’ compensation attorneys, nurse case managers, and insurance adjusters for more than ten years. His practice is structured to provide accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, and the documentation that injured workers and their representatives need.
Common Accident and Work-Related Injuries
Workplace and accident injuries typically result from falls, lifting, collisions, repetitive loading, or high-energy trauma. These mechanisms tend to produce specific injury patterns that differ from sports injuries: tissue damage is often more severe, multiple structures may be injured simultaneously, and recovery is complicated by job demands and functional requirements.
Shoulder Injuries
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Shoulder Instability and Dislocation
- Labral Tears
- Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries
- Clavicle Fractures
- Proximal Humerus Fractures
Knee Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- ACL, PCL, and MCL Ligament Injuries
- Patellar Instability and Dislocation
- Cartilage Injuries
- Tibial Plateau Fractures
Elbow Injuries
- Distal Biceps Tendon Rupture
- Triceps Tendon Rupture
- Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow)
- Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
- Elbow Fractures and Dislocations
Ankle Injuries
- Achilles Tendon Injuries
- Ankle Fractures and Dislocations
- Cartilage Injuries
- Ankle Instability
[See all accident and work-related injuries treated]
For Injured Workers: Scheduling Your Appointment
Work-related injuries require specific steps before your first appointment so that treatment is authorized and timely. Please complete the following before calling to schedule:
- Notify your employer in writing of your injury. Your employer should provide the name of their insurance carrier, the claims adjuster’s contact information, and the insurance policy number.
- Call the claims adjuster and obtain a claim number. You will need the claim number, the insurance carrier’s name and contact information, and your employer’s name and contact information when scheduling.
- Call our office at 630-324-0402 and ask to be scheduled with Dr. Chudik for a work-related injury. You will be connected with Dr. Chudik’s workers’ compensation coordinator, who handles the paperwork and authorization on your behalf.
Your First Appointment
Before your first appointment, please complete any electronic forms sent to you in advance. If you do not have access to a computer, arrive 20 minutes early to complete the forms in our office.
During your visit, Dr. Chudik will take a detailed history and perform a focused physical examination to document your injury, identify contributing factors, and establish a definitive diagnosis. Additional studies — X-ray, MRI, or other imaging — may be ordered to complete the diagnosis. The Westmont office has on-site high-field MRI and X-ray imaging, so in many cases these studies are completed the same day.
Please bring:
- Photo ID
- Any prior medical records related to the injury, including hospital notes, operative reports, and progress reports
- Any prior imaging studies (X-ray, MRI, CT) — bring the actual images on disc or digital media, not just the reports
- A complete list of your current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Clothing that allows access to the injured area
Treatment and Return-to-Work Planning
Treatment plans for accident and work-related injuries are individualized and built around two objectives: restoring function and supporting a safe return to your job. Treatment may be non-surgical — physical therapy, activity modification, injections, bracing — or surgical, depending on injury severity, response to conservative care, and the physical demands of your work.
Return-to-work decisions are not made on a calendar. Clearance is based on objective recovery milestones: tissue healing, restored range of motion, strength and endurance relative to your job’s physical requirements, and the risk of re-injury. For patients in high-demand physical jobs, modified-duty transitions and functional capacity evaluations are coordinated as part of the recovery plan.
Featured Procedures for Accident and Work Injuries
- Arthroscopic Shoulder, Knee, Elbow, and Ankle Surgery
- Rotator Cuff Repair
- Ligament Reconstruction (ACL, PCL, MCL)
- Meniscus Repair and Transplant
- Cartilage Repair and Restoration
- Tendon Repair (Biceps, Triceps, Achilles, Quadriceps, Patellar)
- Fracture Fixation and Trauma Surgery
- Joint Replacement When Indicated
- Revision Surgery for Failed Prior Repairs
[See all procedures for accident and work injuries]
For Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Dr. Chudik has provided orthopaedic expertise to attorneys and legal professionals on work-related injury cases for more than ten years. His services to the legal community include:
- Chart reviews and case narratives
- Depositions and expert testimony
- Independent medical examinations (IMEs)
- Phone consultations on orthopaedic injury cases
- Fee consultations to support settlement planning and future medical cost estimates
To request Dr. Chudik’s assistance on a case or deposition, call 630-324-0402 or email contactus@chudikmd.com. Service fees must be received prior to scheduling.
Requesting an IME
As a certified independent medical examiner, Dr. Chudik is regularly asked to evaluate injured workers and provide expert medical opinion on diagnosis, treatment, and long-term prognosis. To refer a client for an IME, call 630-324-0402 or email contactus@chudikmd.com.
Referring a Client to Dr. Chudik for Treatment
To refer a workers’ compensation client to Dr. Chudik for treatment, have them call 630-324-0402 or email contactus@chudikmd.com and ask to be scheduled with the workers’ compensation coordinator.
Medical Records Requests
Download and complete the Medical Records Request Form and fax it to our office. Phone requests are not accepted. Please allow at least seven business days for processing.
Fee Schedule and Cost Consultations
To support future medical care planning and settlement determinations, Dr. Chudik is available for phone consultation on orthopaedic injury costs and long-term treatment needs. Call 630-324-0402 or email contactus@chudikmd.com to arrange a consultation or request the fee schedule.
For Nurse Case Managers and Field Managers
Dr. Chudik’s office is structured to support the coordination work that case managers do. We will do everything we can to assist — including providing a work space for case managers accompanying a patient to an appointment — if requested.
To schedule an appointment for an injured worker, call 630-324-0402 and ask to be connected with the workers’ compensation coordinator, who will handle the scheduling and paperwork.
Why Patients and Attorneys Choose Dr. Chudik
Dr. Chudik is board-certified and fellowship-trained in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine, with more than twenty years of experience treating acute trauma and complex joint injuries. He is a certified independent medical examiner, a US News & World Report Top Doctor in orthopaedics, and has developed arthroscopic surgical techniques now used internationally. His practice prioritizes accurate diagnosis, clear documentation, and timely treatment — the three things that matter most when an injury has work, legal, or insurance implications.
Offices in the Chicago Area
Dr. Chudik sees patients at four offices across the western Chicago suburbs: Westmont, Western Springs, Hinsdale, and Downers Grove. The Westmont office houses the Sports Medicine Injury Clinic with on-site high-field MRI and X-ray imaging.
Request an Evaluation
To schedule an appointment for a work-related or accident-related injury, call 630-324-0402 and ask to be connected with Dr. Chudik’s workers’ compensation coordinator. For patient-initiated visits not involving workers’ compensation, call the same number or request an appointment online.