About Branko Prpa, M.D - Milwaukee's Top Orthopedic Surgeon
Branko Prpa, M.D.
My goal is to deliver the highest quality healthcare offering the least invasive and most effective surgical and non-surgical treatments available and to provide the highest level of care possible… to help people return to life free of neck and back pain.
My Story
Dr. Prpa is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in spinal surgery procedures. He has performed over 5,000 spinal surgeries. His specialties range from degenerative changes in the spine to complex spinal deformity and revision surgery. Over 80% of Dr. Prpa’s cases are revisions, previously done elsewhere.
Dr. Prpa graduated from Mayo Medical School in 1995. Continuing at the Mayo Clinic, he completed his residency in orthopedic surgery and received his Master’s Degree in Orthopedics. He completed a joint neurosurgery and orthopedic fellowship in spine surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in 2002. Dr. Prpa completed his undergraduate work at DePaul University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. There he received the Dean’s Science Scholarship, a full four year academic scholarship.
Dr. Prpa is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Mid-America Orthopedic Association, and The North American Spine Society. As a leading Milwaukee Spine Surgeon, he holds medical privileges at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee and Wisconsin Specialty Surgery Center in Kenosha.
Education
Spine Fellowship
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, Ohio
August 2001-August 2002
Master’s in Orthopedic Surgery
Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
August 2001-August 2002
Orthopedic Residency
Chief Trauma Resident
Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
Rochester, Minnesota
July 1996-June 2001
General Surgery
Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
June 1995-June 1996
Medical Degree, M.D.
Mayo Medical School
Rochester, Minnesota
August 1991-May 1995
Bachelor of Science, B.S.
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Summa cum Laude 1987-1991
Honors/Awards
Residency
Mayo Institutional Research Grant
$78,000
American Society for Surgery of the Hand Research Grant
$8000
Winner Kelly Award for clinical research
1999
Administrative chief resident
1999
Chief resident trauma
Fall of 2000
Medical School
Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Department of Orthopedics Research Grant
$7000
Mayo Medical School Research Grant
$750
Undergraduate
Summa cum laude
Dean’s Science Scholarship (4 year academic)
Honor’s Scholarship
Member Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
Member Golden Key National Honor Society
Member Outstanding College Students of America
Research
Prpa B, Huddleston PM, Ahn KN, Wood MB; “Revascularization of nerve grafts: a qualitative and quantitative study of the tissue bed contributions to blood flow in canine nerve grafts “t. Award best presentation and paper – Minnesota Orthopedic Meeting 1997. Journal of Hand Surgery, Nov; 27(6) 2002.
Prpa B, Rouse MS, Steckelberg JM, Hanssen AD; “Trovafloxacin inhibits experimental fracture healing”. Thesis work for Master’s in Orthopedic Surgery. Presented August 1999, Annual Orthopedic Infectious Disease Meeting, Colorado. Clinical Orthopedic Research, September 2003.
Prpa B, Berger RA, Bishop AT; “Assessment of the validity of wrist arthrography in patients with ulnar sided wrist pain”. Presented as poster presentation, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, Florida January 2000.
Prpa B, Mabry, TJ, Berry DJ; “Femoral neck nonunions treated with Charnley total hip arthroplasty. Greater than 20 year follow up”. Presented as poster AAOS 2002, Dallas. JBJS October 2004.
Prpa B, Duffy GP, Berry DJ; “Primary uncemented Harris-Galante acetabular components in patients < 50 years old. Results in 85 hips at 10-12 years. CORR October 2004.
Presented at the Hip and Knee Society Meeting 1999.
Presented at the Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, Anaheim, California February 1999. Presented at Mid-America Orthopedic Meeting 1999.
Prpa B, McLain RF; “Malignant Primary Tumors.” Chapter 34, Cancer in the Spine, 2002.
Prpa B, Whitfield M, Webb J, Younng K, Lieberman I; “Interbody Cages.” Chapter 35, Spine Surgery Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management – 2nd Edition.
Prpa B, McLain R, Biscup R. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion: Indications and treatment. Accepted J Am Acad Ortho Surg.
Prpa B, Lieberman I, Bridwell K; “Scheuermann’s Disease.” Chapter 53, Spine Surgery Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management – 2nd Edition 2002.
Prpa B, Kumar S, Haidukewych G; Safe insertion of schanz pins during placement of supra-acetabular external fixation: an anatomic study. Presented at OTS 2001. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, June 2003.
Prpa B, Harrop J, Lieberman I. Adjacent and remote level fractures in kyphoplasty patients. Submitted to NASS and European Spine meeting.
Prpa B, Harrop J, Lieberman I. Adjacent and remote level fractures in secondary osteoporotic patients treated with kyphoplasty. Accepted NASS and European Spine meeting. Spine October 2004.
Supplemental Training
Certified in Mayo Orthopedic Surgery Master’s Degree Course: Techniques of Microvascular Anastomoses
Certified in Basic and Advanced Cardiac pfe Support
Advanced spinal training with Voyager Spinal Navigation Endoscopic spinal surgery
Synthes Pro Disc artificial disc replacement system
Depuy Cervical and Lumber Artificial Disc Replacement Systems
Sofamor Danek Cervical Artificial Disc System
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Nuvasive XLIF Interbody Fusion System
Additional Qualifications and Employment
Professional Organizations
American Medical Association
Member
Racine County Medical Association
Member
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Member
Mid-America Orthopedic Association
Member
North American Spine Society
Member
Employment
All Saints Healthcare.
Racine, Wisconsin 2002 – 2010
Licensure
Successfully passed Part I and II of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Board certified July 2005.
Illinois
Medical license
Minnesota (resigned)
Medical license
Ohio (resigned)
Medical license
Wisconsin
Medical license
Hospital Privileges
Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center
Milwaukee WI
Wisconsin Specialty Surgery Center
Kenosha WI