Dr. Phillip Ludkowski is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treating hip and knee conditions, particularly joint degeneration caused by arthritis. Dr. Ludkowski performs total hip and total knee replacements, partial knee replacements and torn meniscus (knee cartilage) repairs. He uses muscle sparing minimally invasive techniques such as arthroscopy in order to reduce pain and speed recovery. Dr. Ludkowski also offers advanced forms of post-operative pain management. Dr. Ludkowski was drawn to the practice of medicine by his interest in science and desire to help people. He inherited an enjoyment of building things with his hands from his father, a carpenter, which combined with his interest in sports made orthopaedics a natural choice of specialty for him. In providing care, Dr. Ludkowski usually begins with conservative measures such as medications, physical therapy or cortisone injections and only proceeds with surgery if those treatments are insufficient. Whatever the plan of care, he educates patients about their condition and treatment so they can be active partners in their care. Dr. Ludkowski has been the team physician for Rolling Meadows High School athletic teams since 1990 and is proud of the trust placed in him by the community that he serves.