John Brockob of Burr Ridge loves to golf. But over time, his knee began to interfere with his enjoyment of the game.
Initially manageable with ibuprofen, the pain escalated after a fall during a game. “I twisted my knee and tore my meniscus,” said Brockob. “After that, I had trouble walking, and things never got better.”
The pain eventually became unbearable, leading Brockob to stop playing golf. “I was walking like a pirate with a peg leg,” he described. “Even turning over in bed could be painful.”
He discussed his knee issues with Dr. Michael Durkin, who told Brockob that he would know when he was ready for knee replacement surgery. After a couple of years, he was ready. On October 18, 2023, he underwent the procedure at the Center for Advanced Joint Replacement (CAJR) at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange, where Dr. Durkin performs most of his knee replacement surgeries. The 76-year-old Brockob was pleased with his decision.
The CAJR is located on the second floor of a new Outpatient Pavilion built in 2020. The center opened in May 2020, taking its first case at that time. “We were able to stay open during the pandemic,” said Breanna Garrett, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth regional director of orthopedics. The center has continued to grow, and in 2023, CAJR performed over 3,000 joint replacements.
“All this center does, all day, every day, is joint replacement,” Garrett noted. “We stay up to date with the latest technology and research, partnering with surgeons who help us maintain the most current information.” The center’s focus on joint replacement allows it to offer specialized care, co-managing with the hospital for optimal patient outcomes.
The center prioritizes patient convenience by offering a one-stop-shop approach. A pre-op clinic run by an orthopedic nurse practitioner enables patients to complete scans, lab work, and physician consultations in a single visit.
Brockob said two factors in particular drew him to the center. Many joint replacements are done at surgery centers, which are not attached to hospitals. Because the joint center is located within the La Grange hospital, he had the option to stay overnight if needed. While he did not need to stay, it gave him peace of mind to know that he could.
He was also pleased that the center uses robotic surgery. The center offers three different robotic platforms, allowing the physician to choose the best one for each patient. “Robotics allows the surgeon to be as precise as possible, using the patient’s own anatomy as a guide,” Garrett said.
Reflecting on his experience, Brockob said the people at the center were crucial in making his experience a success. “Everyone I met was just great,” he said. “Starting with the woman who checked me in at 5 in the morning—and was cheerful at that hour.” He went into surgery at 7 a.m. and was home by midafternoon.
Brockob rehabbed at home and has been playing golf three to five times per week, often with a golf cart. He said the knee feels so good that he has cut four strokes from his handicap. And he said he might not stop there.
