Orthopedic Pioneer Dr. Richard Berger Marks 20 Years Of Performing Outpatient Joint Replacement Surgeries
World-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Berger, M.D., Rush University Medical Center (RUMC), Chicago, is celebrating 20 years of performing same-day joint replacement surgery. As the first physician to perform hip and knee replacement in an outpatient setting, Dr. Berger has now completed over 12,000 outpatient joint replacements — more than any orthopedic surgeon in the world.
Dr. Berger’s ability to avoid cutting any muscle, ligaments or tendons distinguishes his work from others in the field. From A-list celebrities and former presidents to competitive athletes and weekend warriors, Dr. Berger’s patients not only recover faster than traditional joint replacement patients, but also experience a more complete recovery — allowing them to walk out the door following surgery.
“It has been an honor to go through the years with my patients. My greatest satisfaction is seeing them regain independence and resume activities after surgery,” says Dr. Berger, who is on staff at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and an associate professor at RUMC. “I look forward to welcoming new patients and spearheading innovation to help them return to their version of normal.”