Dr. Keith Pitchford

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Specializing In Hip Conditions & Reconstruction,
Knee Conditions & Reconstruction & Sports Medicine

Biography

Dr. Keith Pitchford

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Hip Conditions & Reconstruction

Knee Conditions & Reconstruction

& Sports Medicine

Dr. Pitchford is founder, president and CEO of Great Lakes Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, P.C. In addition to his private practice as an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Pitchford is Adjunct Assistant Professor for Orthopedic Surgery at Midwestern University and sponsor of the Northwest Indiana Fencing Club.

Dr. Pitchford graduated in 1986 from the University of Illinois, Urbana with a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology. He received his medical degree from Midwestern University (formerly Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine), where he also served his internship and residency in orthopedic surgery.

He completed a sports medicine fellowship with renowned surgeon Dr. Bernard Cahill at the University of Illinois, before accepting a position as staff orthopedic surgeon at Sports Med-Wheaton Orthopedics, during which time he was orthopedic consultant to the Illinois High School Association. From there, Dr. Pitchford returned to the region and began Great Lakes Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.

Physician Resources

JOURNEY◊ II Active Knee Solutions – Implant Wear

Implant materials can impact durability

Virtually all total knee replacement systems use a combination of metal and plastic components to replace the surfaces of a damaged knee. Metal is typically used to replace the surfaces of the bone, while plastic is most commonly used to replace the joint’s cartilage.

Unfortunately, the metal and plastic surfaces of an implant can wear down over time. The primary cause of this “implant wear” is the friction created when the upper, metal, part of an implant – called the femoral component – rubs against the plastic insert. Even with pristine implants, over time, this friction can cause tiny particles of the insert to wear away. If the metal component becomes scratched for any reason, this destructive process can be increased dramatically. In fact, this type of implant wear is a leading cause of premature knee replacement failure.

Fortunately, implant wear can be offset by using advanced, wear-reducing materials during the creation of the implant.

Lab-tested for wear 9-times longer than the industry standard.1

(See Important Testing Note below)

VERILAST Hip

OXINIUM◊ + XLPE = VERILAST Technology

If hip replacement is in your future, you’ve come to the right place to learn about a truly significant advancement in joint replacement materials, VERILAST◊ Hip Technology.

It’s important to remember that not every hip implant is the same. VERILAST Hip Technology is the one technology that directly addresses two of the most commonly cited concerns associated with hip replacement implants:2

  • Implant wear
  • Implant fracture

Whether or not to undergo hip replacement surgery is a very important decision. No matter how statistically safe and successful hip replacement surgery has proven to be, every surgery has risks. Before making any surgical decision, conversations should take place with your family, your primary care doctor and your orthopaedic surgeon to make sure that hip replacement with VERILAST Technology is the right course of action for your particular situation.

oxinium-full

What is OXINIUM◊ Oxidized Zirconium?

If it is determined that an implant made with VERILAST◊ technology is right for you, the femoral – or thighbone portion – of your implant will be made from OXINIUM Oxidized Zirconium – a patented and award winning ceramicised metal alloy that Smith+Nephew spent more than a decade developing.

During manufacture, OXINIUM implants undergo a process that transforms the implant’s surface into a hard, ceramicised metal – while still retaining all of the durability of the underlying metal. In addition to being more durable than a true ceramic, this metal implant’s ceramicised surface is more than twice as hard and therefore twice as resistant to the kind of scratching that can cause a cobalt chrome implant to wear out before its time.1

SEEING PATIENTS AT THESE LOCATIONS

expertise

hip & knee conditions

sports-related injuries

hip & knee joint reconstruction

board certification

orthopedic surgery

Hospital Affiliations

Northwest Regional Center

St. Mary’s Medical Center

Pinnacle Hospital

EDUCATION

BOARD CERTIFICATION

  • Orthopaedic Surgery

AFFILIATED HOSPITALS & SURGERY CENTERS

  • Northwest Regional Surgery Center LLC
  • Franciscans St. Anthony’s Hospital
  • Pinnacle Hospital

AWARDS AND HONORS

  • US News & World Report Top Orthopedic Doctors
  • Top Doctor, Orthopaedics
  • Castle Connelly Top Orthopedic Doctors

AREAS OF SPECIALTY

  • Hip Conditions & Injuries
  • Hip Reconstruction
  • Knee Conditions & Injuries
  • Knee Reconstruction
  • Sports-related Injuries
  • Injured Worker
  • Visionnaire Hip Replacement Technology
  • JOURNEY II Knee Replacement Technology
  • Oxinium-VERILAST Knee Replacement Technology

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS

  • CEO, Great Lakes Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, PC
  • Adjunct Professor for Orthopedic Surgery at Midwestern University
  • Team Physician for Gary SouthShore Railcats
  • Team Physician for Chi-Town Shooters
  • American Academy for Orthopedic Surgeons
  • American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons
  • Consultant to Illinois High School Association