Fractures and broken bones.
In patients’ words.

Thank you so much for making me feel wonderful, even with my metatarsal fracture, all of you are so lovely and friendly…Dr Lee, “Alma”, Danielle 🥰

David Lee, MD

I was taken by LB Fire to Memorial after falling backward off my paver-covered porch and walkway, sustaining 4 fractures to my femur and making my 2012 hip replacement unstable. I was seen by the orth trauma team and referred to Dr. Ramkumar. He came to my room in the hospital, explained what was on the xray and CT scan. We planned for surgery after July 4th holiday. He went over potential benefits, complications, plan of care, etc. I was acutely aware that not too many ortho could do the complex repair. I had surgery, stayed 3 nights. Pain managed. Excellent care from all hospital staff, dept. My first post op appt with Dr. Ramkumar was positive, with wound vac and staple removal. Fracture healing was 2.5 weeks ahead of schedule! PT to be started in the next week at his office. I have to say when I called the office on a Monday morning at 8:01 a.m. to report wound vac battery died, I had a response within 1 minute. I found out that Dr. Ramkumar responded to me, issue resolved. I have positive outlook for my future, as a result.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Dr Richard Ahn is an exceptional hand surgeon. He is knowledgeable, kind & caring. He explained all options to me regarding my broken wrist. Choosing surgery was my best option. Dr Ahn explained the surgery procedure and recovery path to me in detail. I was referred to Medcessity in Long Beach for my PT clinic. Six months later, my hand is at 90% and is stronger now than it was before I broke it. Thank you Dr. Richard Ahn, you are truly the best!

Richard Ahn, MD

I was fortunate that a recent injury and X-rays at Dr. Lee’s office did not reveal a fracture. Nevertheless, he spent time with me offering suggestions. As always, he is knowledgeable and possesses outstanding interpersonal skills.

David Lee, MD

So this is more for Dr. Estess’ services (as opposed to her office), but had to give thanks where due. Dr. Estess recently did an emergency procedure on my broken ankle at Marina Cedars hospital, and she couldn’t have been cooler. Friendly, knowledgeable and professional, she put a stop to the excruciating pain of that night, putting me on the road to recovery. Her staff was also super helpful re: next steps, thorough and responsive via phone/email. So appreciative of Dr. Estess’ time and skills. Her gentle yet proactive approach is what all patients hope for.

Allyson Estess, MD

Amazing, talented and expertise surgeon who fixed my metacarpal fracture with zero pains after surgery. Complete full recovery in 6 weeks! I even forgot I broke my hand. Best decision I made was choosing Dr. Ahn.

Richard Ahn, MD

Dr. Ahn is an excellent doctor. I fell broke my arm and dislocated my elbow and Dr. Ahn did an awesome surgery fixing it. I highly recommend him😊

Richard Ahn, MD

Dr Millstein seemed sincere in his second opinion assessment of my patella fracture and in the best course moving forward

Eric S. Millstein, MD

Dr. Estess and her team are amazing! I broke my leg and they were so helpful in guiding me through this traumatic time. From paperwork, to questions I have felt safe and supported throughout my healing process

Allyson Estess, MD

Dr. Milstein operated on my left wrist that had broken , back in 2016. excellent surgeon, excellent recovery and no pain afterwards . so after fracturing my left patella i made appt to see him again .He is the only orthopedic doctor i feel comfortable with.. His office staff are all kind , professional . He truly gave me hope , professional , kind and easy for me to explain what happened . i know i will be in good hands after he sees my MRI and goes from there .

Eric S. Millstein, MD

A rainmaker Orthopedic Surgeon. Dr. Hunt saved my life. I suffered from 30 years of debilitating back pain. Eight compression vertebrae fractures. Six surgeries. Dr. Hunt recommended a Kyphoplasty procedure. He set me up with Dr Marcel Maya, Interventional Radiologist. Also a rainmaker. Dr. Maya performed this breakthrough procedure. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. An out patient procedure. He injected a targeted vertebrae with cement. I have been pain free since this procedure was done. 30 years of severe back pain and addiction to painkillers. I awoke pain-free. I was in a very dark place. All the credit goes to Dr. Hunt. He recommended this procedure and referred me to Dr. Maya and together, they performed a miracle. God bless them both!

Leonel Hunt, MD

Dr. Lee's staff answer the phone ! Then I was able to get into to see him within a few days. He understood my unique medical situation. The X-ray he took, a usual practice for him, showed clearly my fibula fracture. I wish I had called him earlier.

David Lee, MD

We started treatments about 3 weeks ago, my father is 89 and had a severe right shoulder fracture. Brett is an excellent professional physical therapist. Sessions are always on time, improvements in range of motion started already, my dad said that the pain is slowly diminishing and my dad trusts Brett completely.

Brett Pugh, PT, DPT

Seeing Dr. Prem has honestly been the best thing that has ever happened to me. This upcoming July will be two years since I was involved in a car accident. In the accident I sustained a few injuries, a hip fracture being one of them. My career as professional soccer player who has sustained an injury that severe had left me feeling lost and scared wondering if I would ever be able to touch the pitch again. I knew it in my heart that it wasn’t over. After being discharged from the hospital and doing rehab I still felt unsure… doctors would think I was crazy or would turn me down and say “in time” on getting back to where I was at, or even worse… maybe not even able to play anymore but I knew I needed to look elsewhere and get a second opinion. When I first met Prem it was like god sent him to me. He told me his previous work and how he had worked on athletes of my caliber and I knew that he would get me to where I know I could be. Keep in mind when I met him I wasn’t able to put my knee to my chest in a 90 degree angle, I had a limp, I had tightness near my groin area, and I had metal plates in me. We created a game plan he would get me to be able to get my knee to my chest, improve my range of motion, remove those plates, and release the tension. I had faith that he could do it, and so did he. His confidence had made me trust him so much more, and his work proves it. The surgeries? A success. I now have my range of motion back to where it once was, my injuries are healed, and it’s safe to say I’m back to being on the pitch again doing what I loved since I was a kid. After countless times of being told “you may not be able to play again” it took one visit with Prem to turn that uncertainty around and prove to those that they were wrong. I owe Prem everything and I appreciate him so much.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

Hip Replacement So, your hip is hurting bad enough that you finally need to get it checked out, but you're not sure who to see. That was exactly the situation I found myself in. I knew I wanted a surgeon who specialized in the anterior approach rather than the posterior, since the recovery with the anterior method tends to have fewer limitations. While I was researching, I came across reviews for Dr. Prem Ramkumar. After looking into his training and current practice, it became clear that he was a standout in the field of hip surgeries. He was exactly the kind of doctor I was looking for—someone who used modern techniques to ensure the best possible outcomes. I made an appointment, and within two weeks, I was meeting with him. After reviewing my case, which included hairline fractures, arthritis, and bone-on-bone rubbing, Dr. Ramkumar agreed that I was a good candidate for a total hip replacement. We scheduled the surgery a couple of months out. During that time, I followed the instructions given by both Dr. Ramkumar and Long Beach Memorial. There were daily exercises—nothing too strenuous—but I’m sure they helped my recovery. When the big day arrived, I met with Dr. Ramkumar before the surgery. He reassured me that everything looked good and we were ready to go. Later that day, after the surgery, he came to check on me again to ensure everything was progressing as it should. I could tell he was genuinely invested in my case. That same day, I was able to walk to the restroom with a walker, use the toilet independently, and go up and down a few steps. By the end of the day, I was cleared to go home and was discharged. After the surgery, I stuck to the post-op exercises Dr. Ramkumar recommended. In the first week, I walked around the house and outside with a walker. After that, I graduated to using a cane. Now, almost three weeks post-surgery, I’m feeling fantastic. I’m walking two 1-mile walks a day and continuing with my exercises. I can’t recommend Dr. Ramkumar enough. His expertise made the entire surgery nearly pain-free, and I honestly can't believe how well I’m doing at this point in my recovery.

Prem N. Ramkumar, MD, MBA

I visited Dr. Millstein for a torn rotator cuff and then two months later for a fractured kneecap. Dr. Millstein is incredibly knowledgeable and is conservative in his treatment. I've heard that surgeons are quick to want to perform surgery, but Dr. Millstein listened carefully, looked at test results and determined that surgery was not necessary for either of my injuries. His skillset is top-notch and he answers all questions without rushing you. His staff is also as phenomenal as he - they are very efficient, kind and follow through with all calls, forms, etc. If I could give Dr. Millstein 10 stars, I would. He is deserving.

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

My experience with Dr. Lee has been great. My experience with my broken leg was no fun but... he has been a blessing for me. He not only did great on my surgery but has made the whole process a lot easier for me. He has been great at explaining things, answering questions and helping me feel better about the whole thing. This was my first broken bone and surgery ever so I had a lot of anxiety. He made it better for me. I would highly recommend him as well everyone in his office as well as the people at the hospital where I had my surgery.

David Lee, MD

Dr. Lee spotted my broken bone on the same X-Ray where an Urgent Care facility had missed it. He then took another Xray to confirm, since urgent care had positioned me incorrectly. He's since provided solid follow-up and advice through my healing process.

David Lee, MD

I have NEVER written a yelp review for a Dr. but I wanted to share the experience I had with Dr. Millstein and his entire staff. I unfortunately slipped and fractured 2 bones in my leg. Having never had anything more than a paper cut in all my life I was terrified. I could not have been referred to a better Dr. !!! From my first visit, Dr. Millstein was personable and patient as he SAT and walked me through the x-ray of my leg, explaining the bone(s) I fractured, how they "work", what the recovery process would look like and even the symptoms I might have as I recovered. Without knowing it, this is exactly what I needed...details. He didn't try to rush the healing process but encouraged me (when it was time and the bone had healed) to do what "felt right" as I began to move away from the crutches and the boot. This may sound elementary and expected and if it is - great! However, I've had my share of annual office visits to the Dr. over the years and the totality of all of those visits pales in comparison to exceptional service of Dr. Millstein and the Commons Clinic staff. From the greeting from the front office and the respect of your time (not even a 15 min wait to be seen) to entire back office staff - they are all following the example he is setting. Everyone makes you feel like they are there to help which is an awesome feeling when you are down and wobbling around on crutches! If (God forbid) you ever break a leg, run (no pun intended) to the Commons Clinic and see Dr. Eric Millstein. Tell them Violet sent you...You will Thank me later!

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Eric S. Millstein, MD

Dr. Lee had been treating me for close to a year for a broken foot, which was a work related injury. Dr. Lee is the best orthopedic. He listens to his patients and has helped me tremendously through this life changing injury. Despite the many patients Dr. Lee sees on a daily basis, he treats you as though you're his only patient. I highly recommend Dr. Lee

David Lee, MD

Amazing Doctor & staff, very professional and caring just exactly what I needed after an ankle fracture. They took care of me and made me feel at ease.

Christopher Combs, MD

I fractured my foot in 3 places and and broke my toe. He is extremely honest very kind I can't say anything better than that that to me is the most important

David Lee, MD

In early 2017 I slipped on some ice and suffered a stable fracture of the L1 vert. Once the trauma of the fall settled and I thought I could return to normal, I soon discovered I'd never see normal again. The fall changed EVERYTHING, as most traumatic injuries do. I was also suffering from a bad knee I believe was exacerbated by the fall. About a year and a half after the fall, I went to see Dr. Bae on the recommendation of my Dr. He took a look at my MRI and noted I had a bone spur hitting the nerve someplace below the L1 where the break was, something others had missed (bulging discs, not much to do about it). He assured me this was easy to fix and I'd be good as new. BACK SURGERY!!! AHHHHH!!!! I was terrified. He noted that while I had some disc degeneration, he felt my spine overall looked no worse than someone else's my age, or his even, which made me feel good--he's young. Anyway, in November 2018 I had surgery to fix the bone spur. I've had several surgeries in my life and I woke up sick and out of it every time. This time I woke up like I just had the best nap of my life. I was up and going to the bathroom shortly after I woke up and I was home a few hours later. The office follow-up was great, and I thank Lisa Cano for her kindness and thoroughness during a small rough patch about three weeks post surgery. I'd been feeling a little blah and I could tell I was retaining water throughout my body. I just felt...swollen. I got a massage, and while the masseuse was very careful around the incision, she moved things around, as massage will do. A few hours passed and as I got up from the couch to go to bed, my back was wet. Long story short, the incision opened up and was leaking fluid. I immediately called the office (around 9pm, so it was the exchange I got), and Lisa called back immediately, asked me to take a picture, then told me how to cover it, etc. and had me come in the following morning. Dr. Bae was extremely concerned, said he'd never seen this so far out post surgery. He was NOT dismissive or cavalier, which I appreciated. His concern actually made me calmer about it (we can address the psychology of that another time) He swabbed for infection, then dressed it and sent me home with dressings and orders to take pictures after every dressing change. Within a day or two he called and said he wanted to go back in and surgically put a drain in. I finished a round of antibiotics he normally gives post surgery, and he put me on a second round. I was very against going under again, and within a few days the incision began tunneling. It was clear I had an infection but it wasn't bad enough to make me ill-no fever, no pain to speak of, just a little uncomfortable and a lot unnerving. He finally prescribed a different, stronger antibiotic and within a couple of days the tunneling stopped and the incision closed. These things happen. Drs work diligently to prevent infection, but it happens. The competency and care I experienced with Dr. Bae and his PA Lisa cannot be overstated. I was not worried for a second, and when I objected to going under again for the drain, Dr. Bae was firm that we shouldn't wait too long, but he didn't push. I sent Lisa gross pictures of the wound and the bandages every day, and it was enough to ruin the strongest of stomachs. Her communication was right on, and frequent. Saving the best for last, my back is good as new. The only negative was that with a repaired back my knee situation came to the forefront and proceeded to cause me suffering the back couldn't hold a candle to. I got that taken care of in September of 2019 (see my review of Dr Andrew Yun). I cannot say enough about Dr. Bae and his staff. He is just wonderful and he'll be my go-to if any future issues arise.

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Hyun Bae, MD

Dr. Bhalla has been so kind and patient in treating our sons pars fracture! His knowledge of this injury has helped our son and us as a family recover. We are so grateful for all he has done and our waterpolo star is finally able to get back in the pool thanks to Dr. Bhalla.

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Amandeep Bhalla, MD