Testimonials

I was referred to Dr. Branam by Dr. Stephen Dailey, who cared for me for a number of months before my decision to proceed with a total knee replacement on March 20, 2018. I am now four months into my recovery and I am planning to return, full duty, to my job as a mailman tomorrow. The care that I received from these two doctors and their staffs was exceptional. I would absolutely recommend Dr. Branam (and I already have) to anyone who is considering surgery to relieve knee pain. Thank you to all for your professionalism, your patience and your understanding! I am ready to enjoy my new knee!

I began running seriously when I was 14 years old and suffered every runner’s ailment known, except for my knees. The first time I had a problem with my knees was July 2016 at the age of 55. It started with a nagging pain in my left knee when I ran, after taking a week or two off, icing and Advil the pain was still there. My physician referred me to Dr. Barton Branam, an x-ray and a MRI later I was told I had stage 4 arthritis in both knees, and that a double total knee replacement was inevitable. I tried the knee injections for a while, unfortunately they became less effective as time when on. In a very short time I was crippled, every step was painful; I was bone on bone in both knees.

I scheduled my first knee replacement on January 9th, 2018. It was much easier than expected, the pain level was mostly controlled and even the physical therapy, PT (which started in the afternoon the day of surgery) wasn’t bad. My PT went well and I scheduled my second surgery six weeks later on February 20th. That surgery went even better, I was kicked out of PT because I had completed all the milestones in just six weeks.

I know I was very lucky to have the outcome I did, but I think there was a lot more to it…. It all started with Dr. Branam. He made me feel at ease from the first consultation, both surgeries to the post-surgery check-ups. He took extra time to explain the process and answer my questions. I never felt rushed or that he was pressed for time. Doctor Branam was calm and confident, and that made me feel at ease. Nicholas Reist was always available to answer any questions I had and to provide whatever assistance I needed.

Though my running days are over, I’m walking four to six miles a day and/ or riding my bike which started eight weeks after my last surgery. My daily routine is almost completely back to normal and I couldn’t be happier. I can’t express my thanks enough to Dr. Bart Branam and his physician assistant Nicholas Reist. Thank you for everything!

My experience with Dr. Barton Branam was a positive one. This includes the thorough pre-surgery discussion as well as the post-surgery referral to the Novacare Rehabilitation Facility.

I appreciated his patience, encouragement and professional direction during a difficult rehab.

This also applies to his Physician’s Assistant, Nick Reist. They are an impressive combination backed up by an efficient staff. All of these factors have enabled me to continue to move forward towards my recovery. I would recommend Dr. Branam to anyone needing his medical expertise!

When I tore a ligament in my right knee in 2013 after recurrent dislocations, I was referred to Dr. Branam. He made me feel comfortable and was able to ease my anxiety surrounding my impending surgery. He was extremely helpful throughout my recovery, and very patient with me when I wasn’t progressing as quickly as I should have (I wasn’t always the best at doing my exercises!). When the time came to reconstruct my left knee, I never had a second thought as to who I would call. Dr. Branam listened to my concerns, thoroughly looked over and explained my X-rays and MRIs, then put all my options on the table, giving me the ability to make an informed decision about the path I wanted to take. Throughout my recovery process, Dr. Branam and his PA Nick worked with me to ensure I had everything needed for a full recovery. They communicated well with my physical therapists and always gave me the time I needed during follow-up appointments to ask questions, never making me feel rushed. After years of constant knee pain and frequent dislocations, I am finally able to be as active as I have always wanted to be without having to worry about my knees being able to handle it, something I never imagined would be possible for me. Dr. Branam, Nick, and their entire team have been nothing short of amazing to me and my family. I am beyond thankful for everything this team has done for me & would highly recommend Dr. Branam to anyone needing an orthopedic surgeon!

This past year, Dr. Branam performed 2 knee replacements on me and those two operations have kept me from living the rest of my life in a wheel chair. I am 76 years old and can now walk and work full time again. Dr. Branam and his physician assistant Nick Reist could not have treated me better. I was very nervous about having this done but I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made and that includes having a pro like Dr. Branam doing it!

Back on skis two years after an ACL MCL injury. Dr understood I wanted to get back on skis after the injury. Feels good so far. Went with Patella tendon ACL replacement which took longer to heal but was worth it. At 58 I’m still doing what I want to do. Thanks

In March,2017 I was taken to the ER with an ankle injury. As a result of that ER visit to West Chester Hospital, I learned that I had a nasty break consisting of 3 bones in my ankle and required immediate emergency surgery. Dr. Branam was called to the hospital in the wee hours of the weekend morning to perform the surgery to repair the multiple breaks in my ankle. He and his team did an outstanding job! After, being completely non weight baring for 7 weeks, and continuing to follow up post surgery with Dr. Branam, his PA Nick Reist, along with the Nova Care Team (Terri) in West Chester, I found myself on the mend!! I just completed my 2nd surgery to remove 2 screws from that same ankle. Thank you Dr. Branam, Nick and Team! You're AWESOME!!

Dr. Branam performed a total knee replacement on my left knee at UC Health Westchester Hospital. He and his physician assistant Nick were very informative about the procedure as to what to expect prior to surgery, during surgery, and following surgery. They answered all of my questions and concerns about their method and procedure. I had previous knee replacement on the right knee by another surgeon and at a different hospital that I was not happy with. It was great to wake up with a drain in my knee to drain fluids to keep the knee from swelling out of control. I was able to get up and move around the next morning with very little pain and less meds than the other knee surgery. I was able to straighten my knee and bend back 109 degrees the morning after surgery. My experience at UC Health Westchester Hospital was awesome and everyone was kind and helpful from the time I checked in until I left three days later. Nursing staff was the best I have ever experienced. Food menu was like being in a four-star hotel, ordering from large menu and you get to call it in when you are hungry. Totally the best experience from Dr. Branam, Nick and the entire hospital staff!

I have been blessed to receive excellent care from Dr. Barton Branam for the past 2 years. I was under his gentle care for two knee surgeries and multiple follow-up appointments. I found Dr. Branam to be very open in his communication and explanations when facing big medical decisions and his compassionate presence allowed me the reassurance that I was in the best place to face my medical journey. Throughout this time his staff were caring and attentive to my needs and I found that the relationship that Dr. Branam has with Novacare allowed a smooth transition from surgery to rehab. I trusted that my "new knee" was in the gentlest of hands. Thank you Dr. Branam - not that I want to see you soon but when I am in need of orthopedic care, you'll be the man to call!

“Dr. Branam operated on my left shoulder in April of 2013 and my right shoulder in February of 2016. I’m extremely pleased with both surgeries and blessed that Dr. Branam is my surgeon. Physical therapy was tough but very much worth it. I am so grateful and would recommend him to anyone!”

“Dr. Branam did my Right Knee Replacement in January of 2016 and my Left Knee Replacement in March of 2016. He is wonderful and I have nothing but great things to say about him. The West Chester Hospital where he did my surgeries is an extremely nice facility and the staff there is great! Amazing surgeon!”

“My experience with UC Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has been nothing short of outstanding. From the moment of my first appointment on August 8, 2016 until my last appointment on September 26, 2016 I knew I was in the hands of professional, experienced, and kind people. Everyone from Dr. Branam and Nick Reist, PA-C to the receptionist was dedicated to my care. My right knee was in very bad shape. I could barely walk and had a great deal of pain. I work as a school substitute and was worried due to the school year starting. Dr. Branam and his staff were wonderfully understanding. I was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, August 17, 2016. It could not have gone better. The hospital was great and I was visited by Dr. Branam and Nick while there. It was a bit uncomfortable at first but they were so encouraging! I then started PT in the hospital and home therapy at my sister

“I would like everyone to know about my recent experience with Dr. Branam and his physician assistant Nick. On October 25th, I had a total knee replacement. It was a total success. Before I had the surgery I became very inactive. The pain kept me from many things but, most importantly, my own TV. Since the TV is located on the lower level of my bi-level home, I did not want to tackle the steps. I am 6 weeks out from my surgery now and feel like a new person. I have gone to Christmas walks and shopping and I’m about to travel to visit grandchildren out of state. I also have resumed my relationship with my night-time TV shows. For those of you thinking about putting off knee replacement surgery, I suggest you visit these two fine gentlemen. They work so well together. They take the time to meet with you and tell you what to expect so that there are no surprises. Besides being the best of doctors, they are just plain nice guys. I am sure I thanked them a dozen times for relieving my pain and for my new knee. I am sure you will have the same kind of experience. As a bonus, I have already lost 10 lbs. since surgery. Hurrah for the good UC Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine doctors!”

“Dr. Branam performed a total knee replacement on my right knee on July 19th at West Chester Hospital. He did a great job. My recovery has been very good and my knee feels great. I appreciated his advice and checking on my knee before the surgery. Dr. Branam is very friendly and has a good sense of humor too! I strongly recommend Dr. Branam to anyone who is looking for an orthopedic surgeon. His staff is also very competent. I want to acknowledge his physician assistant Nick as well as the surgery scheduler Becca for their help. Thanks to all of you!”

“I was involved in a bicycle accident and suffered pretty major shoulder injuries as a result. Several full tears, a dislocated bicep, and a fractured scapula. Dr. Branam and the UC Health team came very highly recommended and I decided to go with him and his team to handle my shoulder repairs. Once this decision was made, surgery was scheduled very quickly. Dr. Branam and his team did an outstanding job explaining the surgery, the options, and what to expect with the recovery plan. Everything went exactly as explained and as expected; the surgery was smooth and very successful, and the recovery plan with his physician assistant Nick Reist along with the NovaCare physical therapy team (Heidi, Lauren, Margaret, and Heidi) went very well also. Everyone involved was kind, caring, very professional and very knowledgeable on the best treatment plan and adjusting it to my specific personal needs and agenda. My recovery went better than planned and I was able to return to my activities with no restrictions sooner than expected. I strongly recommend Dr. Branam and his team, given all my concerns regarding my injuries, they did an outstanding job in all aspects of my treatment and it was a pleasure working with all of them!”

“I want to say thank you to my doctors who performed my rotator cuff surgery on Wednesday, 2/1/17. One week prior to surgery, I came to these two guys for help and in great pain after 15 months of missed diagnoses and injury upon injury. Today, my surgery is complete. I am showered, dressed, on my feet, and haven’t had pain medication for 24 hours. My wounds are healing and my physical therapy begins next week at NovaCare. My injury pain is gone, my shoulder has been restored, and I could not be more grateful to these two gifted healers: Dr. Barton Branam, his physician assistant Nick Reist, and the whole team at UC Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. If you need orthopaedic surgery or you’re living with pain, you don’t have to. There is a solution that will improve your quality of life. Choose UC Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. I’m not a professional athlete or a weekend warrior. I’m a mom and grandma who can now hug her grandchildren pain-free. Thank you from this grateful granny with a new bionic shoulder. Woot! Woot!”

“I highly recommend Dr. Branam for anyone requiring orthopaedic surgery. I am an avid runner and mother of four young, active children. I sustained a near-complete hamstring avulsion due to a water skiing accident. In order to continue my active lifestyle for years to come, surgery was recommended. It was challenging finding a surgeon with experience in repairing this type of injury. I was fortunate to find Dr. Branam, who demonstrated the confidence I was looking for. Dr. Branam performed outpatient surgery to reattach my hamstring complex to my pelvis bone. Four weeks in a brace and two months of physical therapy followed (thank you Michelle and Trisha from NovaCare!), all the while being closely monitored by Dr. Branam. I am currently five months post-op and am happily back to running! I am extremely pleased with the results and thankful for finding Dr. Branam and the professional, friendly staff at UC Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine!”

“The thought of knee replacement was overwhelming me to me. It wasn’t until Dr. Branam looked at me and said ‘At this point, I am here for your quality of life. You meet all of the criteria but you need to tell me when you are ready’. I took some time to think things over and it didn’t take me long to realize that while I was still very blessed, my knee pain was truly limiting my quality of life far more that I wanted. I couldn’t do many of things that I enjoyed without pain, especially playing golf. My total left knee replacement surgery took place on 12/6/16 at West Chester Hospital. The overall care I received at the hospital was second to none. Once I left the hospital, there was some pain (which was generally managed well by the pain medications) and plenty of exercises to be done at home which certainly weren’t the highlight of any given day. However, at my two week post-op visit, I was able to shed the walker and could already extend my knee to a decent point and bend it 90 degrees! My team at Drake Rehab in West Chester, Jamilia and Mike, were incredible! Their attentiveness to detail and willingness to truly listen to my needs were invaluable in my overall rehabilitation process.

Today was my final post op visit, exactly three months from the date of surgery. Amazingly enough, two weeks prior to today, I walked a nine-hole par 3 golf course and almost had a hole-in-one! If you are a golfer, you surely appreciate how amazing this was! Quite a few people that I share my knee replacement experience with are simply in awe of the experience and my recovery. This life-changing process would not be possible without the expertise of Dr. Branam, for which I will always be grateful!!! I have been asked multiple times, ‘Would you do it again, knowing what you know now?’ My answer is unequivocally…YES, only IF Dr. Branam is doing the surgery! I would also be remiss if I didn’t offer a special thank you to Nick Reist, PA-C, for all that he has done, as well as the many other team members at Dr. Branam’s West Chester location. They are truly an amazing and talented team led by Dr. Branam’s expertise. Everything they do is done with you and your desires/goals, as the individual patient, in the forefront.

I can’t wait until the warm weather is here to stay so that I can truly enjoy playing golf, gardening, and exercising pain-free…my definition of a truly improved quality of life!!”