Dr. Matthew Saltzman, MD

First visit. Saw him for severe shoulder pain. Got an X-ray and was told that it wasn’t fractured. I was happy to hear that it could be rehabbed and didn’t need surgery. I then asked him if he could help me with my pain, it was severe. He immediately asked me if I wanted “pain pills”. I said that I definitely DO NOT want narcotic pain pills. I asked regarding a cortisone shot to manage my pain. He said “Your diagnosis doesn’t warrant a cortisone shot.” By then we were less than 5 minutes into the visit, and he was getting up to go. As he was leaving I quickly asked him if he could refer me to a doctor who could give me a cortisone shot with imaging (to avoid painful poking), to which he replied as he left “Well, you don’t have to worry about that.” It was another 8 days till I could get an appointment with a real doctor who knows that managing pain without poison is actually part of the job. Thank God for Dr. Ajith Castelino!

I am vouching that everything negative said about Dr. Saltzman is 100% true. My visit with him was the worst experience I ever had. Dr. Saltzman makes it very clear to you that he is uninterested in discussing with you your concerns, or explaining anything in detail, is condescending, thinks he is on a pedestal, and frankly should face a board review of his licensure for how he practices medicine.

This is the worst Dr experience that I have ever went through. Dr Saltzman makes it clear he has no time for you like your bothering him from more important things. He rushes through the appointment doesn't take the time to listen to what you have to say about your injuries. And in turn he doesn't explain himself whatsoever. My visit with Dr Saltzman lasted a woping 2-5 minutes at the max. Stay away if at all possible.

Dr. Saltzman is very personable, knowledgable and empathetic. I would highly recommend him for any shoulder issues.

Very unresponsive to communication. Takes a lot of time off.

I saw Dr. Saltzman for my frozen shoulder in the beginning of the year. Though I had visited my primary doctor and received a steroid shot, Dr. Saltzman immediately recognised that a second shot in a different area was needed. The additional shot helped immensely and Dr. Saltzman also recommended physical therapy. While I am a bad patient and did not faithfully follow physical therapy exercises at home, I still was able to heal significantly. I like the fact that Dr. Saltzman listened to my concerns and told me that surgery was not likely needed. He than followed up with an x-ray to confirm his diagnosis. I am following up with him next week because I like the care I received and trust him immensely.

Great overall experience with him and his staff. He operated on my sons elbow (Tommy John surgery). Highly skilled and professional.

I’m surprised by some of the negative reviews. I didn’t find Dr. Saltzman the least bit arrogant. He spent time with me, determined a plan and discussed possible treatments. He answered all my questions and followed up after my MRI. I’ve seen several other orthopedic doctors. He’s the best

If you need an orthopedic doctor, look no further. Dr. Saltzman is the way to go! I have had arm pain for over a year and have been given the run around by so many doctors. I even had a doctor do an MRI that cost me $900 out of pocket after speaking and evaluating me for less than 30 seconds. Dr. Saltzman and his nurse practitioner were able to give me a diagnosis very quickly and a plan of action to alleviate my pain quickly without me having to spend more money and time. They were conservative in their approach offering me a cortisone shot I've been wanting for a long time and an arm band. They said it would be rare to determine I need surgery, but wanted to try less invasive and more cost effective approach first. I would highly recommend seeing Dr. Saltzman. You will be in great hands. It's rare to find a doctor that truly cares about helping his patient and is not money hungry.

Dr. Saltzman only spent about 5 minutes with me in my appointment. As soon as he realized that my issue didn't require surgery, he didn't seem to have much interest in my case. He recommended a PT but couldn't even provide a specific recommendation. I have since gone to another orthopedist who spent more time assessing my situation, provided some minimal treatment, and provided a detailed and thoughtful action plan in regard to PT. Dr. Saltzman came highly recommended to me, and he's probably a very competent surgeon just wasn't a good fit for my non-surgical needs.

Arrogant, of course he is, he's a surgeon, condescending, check, caring, nope.  Went in to get looked at by Saltzman and he said the same thing many others wrote, gave me a prescription and told me to do P.T.  After six months of P.T. and being at his office two times during that time period, I finally told him to stop screwing around and give me an MRI.  Low and behold, what he told me was impossible turned out to be the case, a full ligament tear.  Great so I had been suffering in pain, doing P.T. for six months for no good reason at all.  Thanks.  Had surgery and due to complications and his gross negligence, I am now maimed for life.  I've battled depression, dealt with pain and lack of full functionality because of his negligence.  I highly recommend finding someone else.  Aside from being a jerk, he doesn't care for his patients, he just wants the money.  Boy how I wish I could turn back the hands of time!

Dr. Saltzman did a reverse shoulder replacement on my 72 year old left shoulder on May 1, 2019. He did a wonderful job. If he is arrogant, which I did not find in several visits to him, it is because he is just the best. A little over three months later I have almost full use of this arm/shoulder with no pain which was terrible before. I highly recommend Dr. Saltzman.

The Best!!!

Arrogant, aloof, condescending, hurried, discourteous, supercilious are some of the more acceptable words which pop into my head when I hear Dr. Saltzman's name. I went from a bad situation to ten times worse thanks to his carelessness. I suffered physically and still do as well as mentally after mistakes he made and he didn't even do as much as apologize. Go somewhere else if you need surgery or risk having your arm and life significantly damaged by this man.

Very arrogant, doesn't listen to patient concerns or needs, makes up his mind on what he wants the patient to do which in my case was just PT, but I have another surgeon and physiatrist that have already diagnosed me with torn rotator cuff and nerve palsy with winged scapula and they know I need 2 surgeries to fix my problems. He was terrible with his diagnosis and PT would hurt my shoulder worse than it is already. Did PT already and the therapist stopped my therapy because he felt it was dangerous to continue since it could cause more damage and was extremely painful for me. He didn't look at previous reports or MRI images and couldn't get my appointment over with fast enough to exit the room, leaving me in pain with no hope for repair and stuck with the original surgeon who I was looking to replace. Useless, arrogant, condescending, non patient centered care.

As others have said Dr. Saltzman is very arrogant and has a condescending attitude. He spent 5 mins with me bragging about how much he loves to do surgery and my case wasn’t a surgery case and he referred me to PT. My neurologist had also referred me for nerve compression in my elbows and he refused to even take xrays of my elbows again just recommending PT. He told me I can go get a second opinion but they are going to say the same thing. Well I did go get a second opinion at Midwest Orthopedic’s at Rush which is #4 in the country well above Northwestern and none of the doctors agreed with Dr Saltzman assement. In fact i have seen 4 doctors there because my shoulder injury is so bad and rare and was referred to one of the orthopedic trauma surgeon’s for the White Sox’s to try and fix my shoulder. I would never ever recommend him to anyone. He missed the mark big time and all the doctors at Rush agreed I needed to have surgery and that PT would just do more damage. NW has declined.

Dr Saltzman performed a total shoulder arthroplasty on my right shoulder in 06/2010. That same year, I was back to biking and skiing. Nearly 9 years later and at 83 years of age, I am still riding my bike and skiing. Having experienced such good results from his care, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr.

As other reviews have mentioned, he was in and out of our visit in 5 minutes, but in those 5 minutes he was able to correctly diagnose what other doctors could not. After his recommended conservative treatment failed he performed surgery, and I just had my first pain free day in over a year. He also mentioned he consults with the Chicago Cubs, so I figured my shoulder would be safe with him.

Great bedside manner.

I would not, recommend this doctor to anyone his overall demeanor was arrogant and condescending. During the visit he seem to be in a rush and his only option was medication and therapy and as a surgeon I would have expected a more informative consult.