I have high regard for Dr. Kaz and his medical secretary, Amanda. My foot is painful and he explained my options. I am confident that he knows exactly what to do and does not recommend unnecessary surgery. read more

I don't think I can thank Dr. Kaz and his wonderful team enough...I suffered for over 4 years with an undiagnosed foot condition - Northwestern Orthopedics said i needed arch supports; Lincoln Foot and Ankle said i needed foot exercises and steroid injections. By the time i found Dr. Kaz my foot was in terrible shape. Dr Kaz suspected a torn planter plate, and recommended an ultrasound, by in his opinion the best radiologist in the area, Dr. Kinkaid. Dr. Kinkaid confirmed the planter plate was disintegrated thus causing my toes to hammer. The surgery was complicated and recovery was long, but Dr. Kaz and his team kept me comfortable. I cannot say how much I appreciate the professionalism and care from Dr. Kaz, Dr. Kinkaid, and last but not least, his wonderful secretary Amanda. Thank you! read more

Excellent foot and ankle surgeon. My husband had a bad ankle fracture (trimalleolar fracture) from falling off his bike, and Dr. Ari Kaz did an excellent job with his surgery. Good bedside manner. We are grateful for his expertise and care. Highly recommend! read more

I cannot emphasize enough how helpful and incredible Doctor Kaz has been in my treatment and recovery at IBJI. In the summer of 2018, I was involved in a freak accident that resulted in a fracture of my heel. This occured after having never suffered a bone fracture in my life, so I knew little about what to expect or what was in store for me. From the get go, Dr. Kaz was upfront, direct, professional, and considerate. He explained very clearly the scope of my injury, recommended a treatment plan, and laid out what the time frame and impacts to my routine and lifestyle would be. I was most impressed with how he took the time to explain the medical details of my injury and surgery to me in laymen's terms so that I understood what was happening. My recovery was a long one with some setbacks along the way, but Dr. Kaz was there every step of the way providing realistic feedback and a sense of urgency in my care that I appreciated greatly. Now, one year later I have recovered fully and am back to the life and activity level I had before my injury. I would not be there today without Dr. Kaz. If you ever need a foot and ankle specialist, do not hesitate to see him! Side note: as a member of the GLBTQ community, I was especially impressed with how welcoming Dr. Kaz was to myself and my boyfriend. He made him a partner in my care and was incredible to both of us. read more

Dr. Kaz from the first appointment regarding my broken ankle to the final follow-up I just had was very honest, knowledgeable, and worked wonders on my foot while in surgery. Today marks 16 weeks to the day of my surgery and I'm walking without a limp or any pain whatsoever. I still have maybe a month or more of physical therapy so I feel confident running and jumping but to think in less than four months I'm 'back to normal' is incredible. I highly recommend Dr. Kaz for any foot/ankle issues. read more

I've been working with Dr. Kaz and the staff of IBJI for several months and it's been a great experience. I acquired a trimalleolar fracture (badly broken ankle) playing hockey in early September and was lucky enough to see an ER doc that referred me to Dr. Kaz. I'm a fairly no-nonsense guy and Dr. Kaz's demeanor was exactly what I needed. Visits were short and to-the-point, he instilled confidence, his staff were great every single time and -- most importantly -- he delivered. It's now six months after the break and my ankle is in great shape, albeit a little more "interesting" with nine screws and a plate along for the ride. The x-rays look amazing and the ankle feels nearly as good as new. I haven't gotten back on the ice yet, but I'm typically on my feet several hours a day and I don't notice a thing. I can't recommend Dr. Kaz highly enough. read more

The worst! Literally do not go to someone so ignorant. Go wait 3 hours for someone competent. He cares about sales and business he doesn't care about the person. Beware!!! As a working woman he has zero respect. Find a better doctor that will take care of you and care about your self worth. Disgusting human. read more

At age 70, I fractured my left leg at the ankle, at the lower end of the end of both the tibia and fibula where it curves out, and also, from the shock, a diagonal break in the fibula at my calf. Dr. Kaz sent me for a 3-D scan of just my left calf and foot, which prepped us for a surgery with no surprises. "Maison-Nueve" (named for a French Dr.) is a complicated surgery, with 2 plates, seven screws, and mesh bands cinched above and below the leg bones. Dr. Kaz did a perfect job, very snug and neat. His Physician's Assistant Mike sutured my ankle up. The anesthesia was just right, kept me completely under, but wasn't too hard to come out of. Dr. Kaz was honest, warning me that post surgery would be painful, yet he showed concern that I have no more than a bit extra of the painkillers, though not too much, so I wouldn't get addicted to the pills. To me this shows that he and his team clearly care about the patient as a whole person. Follow up appointment x-rays that i took pictures of with my phone showed steady improvement. After 2 months in a cast, 2 in a boot, and 3 months of physical therapy, I can walk more each day, go up and down stairs, and flex my foot almost as much as before. Now I can put half my weight on it as I raise my left foot to the ball of my foot and my toes, and I continue my exercises. Dr. Kaz is an excellent orthopedic surgeon. He is also very busy, and focused on the essentials, as are all orthopedists. His assistant Mike provides exceptionally clear answers to questions and the nursing staff give knowlegable encouragement for the long recovery. IBJI provided me with a waiver for my gym also. read more

I was referred to Dr. Kaz from my primary physician because I had numbness in my feet, which to me warranted some concern. He was very patronizing, as if he thought I didn't have the right to seek medical treatment unless I had a limb falling off. The x-ray technician was also really rude and seemed distracted by her phone. I don't understand people who get into these industries who act like they'd rather not be helping people. As a patient, I'm actually a paying customer and deserve a quality experience from medical professionals. To me, that's reasonable. read more

No words can adequately thank Dr. Kaz. I have dealt with chronic ankle instability for the past 20 years and had given up on my passion of running. From answering my initial questions about the pros and cons of even trying a surgical repair, to proactively preparing me for the surgery and the recovery, to being available for any questions along the way, Dr. Kaz and his team (especially his medical assistant Amanda) were amazing, supportive, and responsive. My ankle ended up being more damaged than I was hoping, and Dr. Kaz did an amazing repair. My ankle is like new. I found Dr. Kaz to be upfront, honest, incredibly knowledgeable, and wonderful physician. I am so happy that I picked him to do my surgery. Even my scar looks great! Thank you Dr. Kaz, Amanda and the entire IBJI crew. read more

Dr Kaz is very knowledgeable and took the time to explain things to me thoroughly and to answer all of my questions. He is very responsive for questions via email and voicemail between visits, also. His assistant Amanda is excellent, too. I highly recommend them. read more

Dr Kaz and his team, especially Amanda, have been wonderful during the last year. Dr Kaz performed operations on both of my ankles. Prior to surgeries, Dr Kaz was able to answer my questions thoroughly and gave me the peace of mind I needed. Now, at 6 months after my last surgery, I feel as if the surgeries were completely successful in helping to restore me to a pain free life. Amanda was always very helpful and very proactive (and nice!) in making sure that I would be able to attend to all of my appointments and providing any insurance referrals as required. read more

I had a traumatic injury, breaking my leg in half at the ankle on a Saturday. Dr. Kaz was able to get me into his office on Monday and realized I needed surgery immediately, so had me scheduled on a Wednesday. After ten screws, a couple plates, and a ligament reattached I was on my way to recovery. Everyone is amazed at how quickly I've recovered from the very start, from family, doctors and physical therapists. He must have worked some magic with my ankle and 4 months later, I'm already back to almost normal conditions. Anytime I had a question, he was very receptive and took the time to explain exactly what happened and made me feel comfortable. I've continued to do Physical Therapy at his office and I couldn't have asked for a better experience after having a serious injury. read more

Dr Kaz was probably the best doctor I've ever had. Despite us meeting due to unfortunate circumstances (I broke my talus bone in my ankle), Dr Kaz patiently talked me through my treatment options and helped me understand everything that was going on with my break and recovery. I opted for having surgery done with Dr Kaz and he thoroughly explained the procedure to me, and put me at ease going into the surgery. He continually gave me feedback as to how my recovery was going and was a very positive influence throughout our time together. I also had some insurance issues that he was more than happy to help me with. I would HIGHLY recommend Dr Kaz for anyone with a foot/ankle injury. read more

After a botched ankle surgery by ANOTHER doctor seven years ago, I finally found the one who would make a difference. From the first office visit, Dr. Kaz immediately gained my confidence. He listened to me and examined my ankle more thoroughly than any other doctor I had been to. He was more knowledgeable and provided more information than I could even gather on the internet....and boy did I do a lot of research! He sent me for X-rays, an MRI, ultrasound of the nerves, and Ct scan. He gathered all the info he needed to do the best jobless could during surgery. The top doctor to which I was sent for the ultrasound told me that Dr. Kaz would be the guy HE would go to for foot and ankle surgery (which meant a lot). A little over two weeks ago, I had my surgery with Dr. Kaz. He placed a couple screws in my ankle after grafting bone into the holes in the ankle. As could happen with any surgery, something shifted, and upon viewing X-rays after 4 days, Dr. Kaz told me in order for best results, he'd have to go back in and make it as perfect as it could be. WHAT INTEGRITY IT TOOK FOR THIS MAN TO SAY THIS. He could've just said, "that's as good as it's gonna get." Like my previous surgeon said. But Dr. Kaz, being the amazing, perfectionist that he is, said, "I need to fix it!" I could tell that he felt bad, which meant so much, because he didn't do anything wrong! He's honest and wants the best for his patients. Anyway, we did the second surgery and X-rays showed that the bones are now perfectly aligned. He has asked me both times how I was treated in the surgical center. He genuinely wanted to know. I can't say enough good things about Dr. Kaz. I have about six weeks of non weight bearing to go, but I'm confident everything will heal just fine. Don't think twice about going to Dr. Ari Kaz! You'll see why the first time you meet him. I'll update review as I heal more. Check out this story featuring how Dr. Kaz helped someone who was suffering with foot pain. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PKsID4R9p7s read more

Kaz, did surgery for Neuroma on my foot two years ago. It still hurts. When I went back he referred me to A podiatrist that went on pregnancy leave. I've seen A couple of doctors since that time they all say I have excessive scar tissue from the surgery! I've been spending a lot of time and money trying to get rid of it. Maybe he's a little heavy handed with the knife? read more

He was very helpful in getting me back on my feet (sorry, couldn't help myself). He did my ankle surgery and 6 months later I'm practically back to 100%. Took the time to talk to me on every follow up and if there was anything that could be an issue he followed through to double check and make sure there wasn't. Also the rest of the staff there were great and friendly and always available for long call. read more

Dr Kaz and his staff were nothing short of amazing . When I first went to Dr Kaz he was very thorough and to the point about what needed to be done with my foot. I broke my 5th metatarsal and displaced it requiring surgery. He gave me two options before surgery, either to stretch my foot and place my bone back in place or if that did not work he would have to make an incision and put plates and screws in. Luckily he was able to do the former so my surgery was less invasive and faster! When I had my last consultation with him he asked me if I could run and jump, my answer was yes. Thank you for getting me back to 100% Dr Kaz! read more

We had a great experience with Dr. Kaz. My fiancé needed help addressing an osteochondral defect in his ankle. Dr Kaz recommended physical therapy as the first approach. When PT didn't work we had to look at other options which meant surgery. Dr Kaz has a great bedside manner: calm, collected, direct but reassuring. He was clearly confident and competent which gave my fiancé a great feeling of comfort before his surgery. The results were fantastic. He was previously unable to walk even short distances without pain and can now live a normal active lifestyle. read more

I was referred to Dr Kaz through my HMO and saw him three times, twice for ankle injuries and once for a knee problem. For the knee, he performed a couple strength tests, said the knee was fine despite my complaints of instability and suspicions that I had partially dislocated a bone, and sent me to physical therapy. No X-ray, no other tests, just strengthening exercises. PT provided temporary relief, but the underlying problem was not addressed and the knee continued to give me trouble. The two ankle visits were where I saw Dr Kaz's true "expertise." Both times I complained about pain in a specific part of my ankle and lost range of motion. Dr Kaz listened to my description of the pain and diagnosed a tendon issue WITHOUT EVER DOING A PHYSICAL EXAM. Again, he didn't order an X-ray or MRI to confirm his diagnosis even though the radiographs could have been taken on-site. Months of PT and, shockingly, no improvement. When I got a second opinion, my new, competent doctor ordered the necessary tests which revealed an defect on the talar dome that required a scope. A pattern emerged over my visits with Dr Kaz. He was energetic and engaged during initial appointments, exuding confidence that bordered on arrogance. My follow up visits, each of which was to notify him that the course of treatment hadn't worked and to inquire about next steps, found him rushed, dismissive, and pissy, like it was my fault his treatment plan failed. Had he ordered a simple X-ray, Dr Kaz would have seen that no amount of PT was going to fix the ankle. He actually uttered the phrase "there is nothing else I can do for you" during my last visit. Aren't you a surgeon, Dr K? Wasn't surgery something else you could have done? Oh, that's right, you had no idea what was actually wrong or that surgery was required because you never ordered the appropriate tests. I found Dr Kaz to be lazy, pompous, and completely unfamiliar with the concept of patient centered care. Avoid at all costs. read more

My experience with Dr. Kaz started with a ankle injury that happened at a construction site caused by the companies neglect. Needless to say I was in a world of pain along with having issues walking standing etc. The IME for the insurance company was set on me not needing surgery and basically attempting to say that my injuries/pain were due to a type of reoccurring pain that steroids might help. Long story short my injuries were obviously visible through mri, ct scan, etc. When I was finally able to do the surgery after being denied by the workmen's comp. I had also ripped my outer tendon and ended up losing 50 percent of it. Dr. Kaz from beginning to end was honest and forward about my injuries, plan of action, and possible outcome. He explained every step we were to take and answered all of my questions even the ones I had asked numerous times lol. He was patient and listened to my concerns. He was also very honest of what the expectations were. The surgery was a great success in my opinion as much as it could have been expected for having to wait over a year to get it done due to the insurance and IME games. I am very lucky that I was referred to Dr. Kaz and his very polite and helpful staff especially his secretary Amanda K. I would recommend both DR. Kaz and ILBJ in a heart beat. I greatly appreciate how I was treated at a time when I was both physically emotionally unstable due to this injury. I felt that Dr. Kaz listened to every pain I explained to him and had he not listened or cared as the IME was I would be in a really really bad spot right. read more

Dr. Kaz was rude, condescending and arrogant. This was the worst experience I have ever had with a physician. Even the X-ray technician apologized for him. I was horrified and will not be returning. read more

Dr. Kaz is one of the best doctors I've worked with, and with his help my ankle (fracture/dislocation requiring surgery) is already back to a point where I can become physically active again - in just over 4 months from the serious break! At all points in the process he was methodical in his evaluations (x-ray as soon as I arrived in his office every time, checked range of motion and nerve response, etc.) and very clear about what I could expect to happen and how I'd need to limit myself in order to recover as best and as quickly as possible. I also appreciated the work of his office staff - I never waited around when I arrived for an appointment, and they called around to find the best facilities to be able to get my CT scan and surgery booked quickly. I had gotten referrals from a few different friends who are doctors or otherwise involved in orthopedic medicine before I met with Dr. Kaz. To a person they said he was "the best ankle doctor in the city." I'm happy to say that I fully believe that to be true after my experiences. Thank you, Dr. Kaz! read more

Dr Kaz and his staff is amazing! He is direct and honest and does incredible work. He reconstructed my left foot and my foot looks great and more importantly works well! I've been a flight attendant for 29 years and was referred to him by another flight attendant. Having work on my other foot next month. Don't even consider anyone else for foot surgery. Dr Kaz in an expert in his field! read more

Dr. Kaz is the S*#t! I tore my Achilles Tendon in May of 2014 and was able to have surgery within 3 days of the tear. Dr. Kaz walked my husband and I through all of our options and was informative and kind. What I also liked was that he was straight forward with me; he said that if you follow our recovery plan exactly - then he would have me driving again in 3 months (it was my right foot). I had a hard cast for 3 weeks then went right to a boot. I was in crutches for 2 months. Exactly as he promised and me following direction, I was driving at month 3! My scar is not bad at all either. I finished my PT at 6 months and I am fully recovered. My last promise to him is not to run a hill for at least a year. :) One of my favorite things about Dr. Kaz is his confidence. He made me feel safe, gave me his recommendation and opinion and talked through anything/everything I wanted to know. His confidence gave me confidence. And Dr. Kaz; I totally agree that you should have been the one to do Kobe Bryant's surgery! I MUST also comment on the office and his assistant Amanda. She was wonderful! She emailed any information I requested, called me the day before for appointments, and by the end we knew about each others kids and she always made it a point to ask about my family. They are a great team! And I NEVER waited more than 15 minutes in the waiting room. Thank you so much Dr. Kaz and Amanda!! On to cave repelling in the Dominican Republic! read more

Dr. Kaz is hands down one of the most professional, honest and naturally skilled surgeons I've ever had the pleasure to deal with. He was extremely straightforward, efficient, thorough and respectful of my time. He performed a flawless repair on my ankle and I'm already back to 90% just 2 months after surgery. I will be forever grateful for him and highly recommend Dr Kaz for any patient in need of ortho work. read more

I had a triple ankle fracture while skiing in Colorado. The local emergency center stabilized me just so I can get back to Chicago. That was on Friday. Dr. Kaz, who came strongly recommended, was able to see me as early as Monday. After doing an X-ray, he scheduled the surgery for Tuesday at Swedish Covenant hospital. The surgery went well - so well, in fact, that I often forget what my ankle has been through. It's been over two years and my ankle is doing great. Thank you, Dr. Kaz! read more

I slipped on the ice and fractured my ankle in 3 places. It was the first time I've broken any bones or had surgery, which was needed to reset the bones. Dr. Kaz was so patient with me, and I was a wreck the first time I came in to IBJI. My remarkable recovery, with Dr. Kaz' help, is complete, and 6 months after my accident I am playing tennis! (Though still not very well). Thanks Dr. Kaz! read more

I had severe pain in my left foot when walking from Morton's neuroma and a bunion. I was seeking treatment from a podiatrist that only masked the pain. I was then referred to Dr. Kaz and scheduled an appointment. I immediately knew that I made the right decision after he evaluated my foot and discussed my options in detail with me. It has been 4 months since my surgery and I am able to walk to/from work everyday and up to 8 miles on weekends pain free. I am so grateful and happy! read more