Dr. Willem Zeegers, a pioneer of total disc replacement (TDR)/artificial disc replacement (ADR), passed away on September 20, 2017 at the age of 72.
Dr. Zeegers is survived by his two daughters, Susan and Heleen, his son, Olivier, his two brothers, Hans and Maarten, as well as his life partner, Branka.
A family memorial service was held on September 25, 2017 prior the cremation at Crematorium Imstenrade, Heerlen, Netherlands.
Born on April 11, 1945 in Maastricht, Netherlands, Willem Zeegers came to devote his life to medicine, becoming an orthopaedic and inventer. He was one of the first surgeons to use STALIF (standalone lumbar fusion).
A longtime friend, Roberto Posavec, M.Econ, says, “His special contribution is definitely in [the] field of TDR/ADR…many surgeons from the U.S. started ADR surgery after watching Willem (for example Texas Back Institute). Willem started with ADR in 1989.”
Recalling Dr. Zeegers’ integrity with a story, Posavec says, “About 25 years ago Willem visited Zagreb, Croatia. He was invited to perform first the lumbar artificial disc replacement (ADR) in Croatia. The event organizer invited politicians, the mayor, and several journalists to cover this story. When Willem arrived, he found that he had been tricked. It was not the patient he was supposed to operate on. This patient did not have clear indications for ADR, so Willem turned around and left the hospital!”
“Willem was a consummate instructor, and unselfishly shared his knowledge and wisdom with physicians from around the globe. In his career he performed over 3,100 implantations of artificial discs. I believe the peak of his career was from 2000-2008 in famous ALPHA KLINIK in Munchen, Germany.
One of Dr. Zeegers’ patients, Robert Giesen, wrote, “Dear Willem, The first time I came for a treatment was in 1986 and you noticed immediately that my back was in bad condition after an operation by another surgeon. You have been working for three years on a solution for my back, before you decided in 1989 to implant two artificial discs. I was the first patient for this kind of operation for you. I will never forget that you sat on my bed, talking to me, explaining the whole operation after you had to cancel it two times. You were so confident that it would be possible, that is was the best solution. That is why I can still walk, even you performed five surgeries after this operation, but it was necessary. You were a great lovely person who really cared about his patients. RIP my friend and thanks for everything you did for me.”
This man gave me my life back in more ways than one. I am devasted to hear of his passing.
Great surgeon and lovely person . He gave me back my joy in live and will always be grateful to him . R.I.P Dr.. Zeegers
My life was constant pain and after 10 years I was wanting to end my life…….Then I met Dr Hoogland and Zeegers. They gave me a second chance at life, and after L5 ADR 2007 I am still dancing and surfing now. This man was a Legend! God Bless you and RIP Dr Zeegers.
Vreselijk nieuws wat ik pas vandaag ontvang . Mijn allerbeste geluk in het leven heb ik gevonden bij Dr Willem Zeegers , door deze fijne man heb ik weer een fantastische leven , geopereerd in stappen ben ik weer de oude ! 2000/2004/2006 het stappenplan van Dr Zeegers heeft gewerkt (reduceren) een en al lof voor deze persoon . Zolang ik leef blijft u in mijn hart !!
Always in our heart… friend, father, mentor, guide… drs. Willem Zeegers!!!
I had a sugery at my lower back. Dr Zeeger saved my life, because i really diddn’t want to life anymore. I had so much pain and in the Nederlands they didn’t want to help me anymore. In 2006 i had my operation and he places two discus implants. We had to pay it our selve because the dutch insure said that it was experimental operation but i know it was not. Now 12 jears later i can say. Even that i had operation alsow in germany at my upper back? That i have a life again and i thank dr Zeegers every day. I googeld his nam for my friend because she has back problems and i’m so sorry for lost such a good and friendly docter. Maybe my worths will comfort. Thanks again dr Zeegers. Rip your patient Leonie Bosing
Dear Leonie,
I just found out about his passing. My story is your story. Got my life back with two new discs. Thankful every day!
I’m deeply saddened to hear of Dr Zeegers’ passing. He was a wonderfully decent, ethical surgeon who cautioned me accurately from surgery after I presented my case to him in 2016, At the time very three US surgeons had suggested major cervical spine surgery, but It was because of Dr. Zeegers’ integrity, generosity and expertise that I was finally guided to the truth. We found a brilliant surgeon in NYC, Dr. Riew, who concurred with Dr. Zeegers that I was not and am not presently a candidate for surgery even two years later. His passing is a great loss. Warmly, D
So sorry to hear this news. I was looking for him to recommend to a friend, this is incredibly sad. Dr Zeegers was not just a great surgeon who gave me my life back after years of NHS incompetence and pain, he was also a kind man and genuinely concerned. My disc replacement is still going strong and I owe my 40s onwards to Dr Zeegers. RIP. Your patient Iona.
Dear friend, I will never ever forget you.
Vandaag is het18 jaar geleden, dat ik door Dr.Zeegers 3x aan mijn rug geopereerd ben in München. Door de verzekeraars afgeschilderd als “experimentele” operaties. Dr.Zeegers heeft mij een kans gegeven door in mijn rug een aantal protheses te plaatsen waar ik hem eeuwig dankbaar voor ben.Ik werk elke dag vol passie en zeker geen licht werk.Dr. Zeegers ik hoop van harte dat u nu de rust en geluk gevonden heeft die u toekomt na uw enorme hulp aan de medemens. Johan van der Zand.
A very accessible and humble person i had the chance to speak with on the phone. Very human , close to people Was shocked to learn he had passed a year later.He never shown he was ill .He was there till the end.
A very nice soul i will never forget.
Willem heeft na jaren van pijn mij gered van de rolstoel.
25 juni 2000 was een van de mooiste dagen van mijn leven.
Na de operatie ben ik tot aan zijn dood zeer goed bevriend gebleven.
Ik denk nog vaak aan hem. Een man met ontzettend veel humor.
Never a dull moment, zoals dat op zijn grafsteen staat.
Ik lees nu pas dat mijn redder is overleden.Ben erg geschrokken. Deze grootse arts heeft mij zo geweldig geholpen 26 jaar geleden nadat ik al 18 jaar met klachten had rondgelopen van de ene naar de andere arts.Ik wens zijn familie alsnog heel veel sterkte en kracht om dit verlies te dragen.Zal hem nooit vergeten.
Lees nu pas dat mijn redder in nood niet meer onder ons is .Schrok ervan!Dr Zeegers heeft mij mijn leven en mobiliteit teruggegeven daarvoor kan ik nooit genoeg voor bedanken. Ik wil graag hierbij alsnog de familie heel veel sterkte toewensen met het verlies van zo een groots man
Geschokt door het lezen van het overlijden in 2017 van mijn grote redder dr. Zeegers. Niemand in orthopeden land pikte mijn hulp vraag op maar dr. Zeegers reageerde direct op mijn brief en zei:”jij hebt vragen, ik de antwoorden, kom maar gauw naar Sittard”. Dat hebben we gedaan. Praktisch niet kunnen lopen, veel pijn, been uitval en op dat moment al langdurig in de ziekte wet. De discus prothese werd geplaatst en zonder pijn stapte ik een dag later uit bed. Elke keer als ik noodgedwongen een Nederlandse orthopeed bezoek om andere orthopedische klachten, veroorzaakt door een aanrijding van achteren wordt eerst gevuld met ongezouten commentaar over dr. Zeegers werkwijze, het kosten plaatje en ingezette middelen. Maar nu (bijna) 30 jaar later zit de Charite prothese nog steeds op zijn plek zonder wat dan ook. Dit soort slecht “collegiale“ commentaar heeft dr. Zeegers altijd gekwetst
en zeer verdrietig gemaakt. We missen een groots mens, één die ik altijd dankbaar zal blijven voor wat hij voor mij gedaan heeft.
Dank je wel dr. Zeegers.
Shocked to read about the death in 2017 of my great savior Dr. Zeegers. No one in the orthopedic country picked up my request for help, but Dr. Zeegers responded immediately to my letter and said: “You have questions, I have the answers, come to Sittard quickly.” We did that. Practically unable to walk, a lot of pain, leg failure and at that time already in a long-term illness. The disc prosthesis was placed and I got out of bed a day later without pain. Every time I am forced to visit a Dutch orthopedist for other orthopedic complaints caused by a rear-end collision, I am first filled with blunt comments about Dr. Zeeger’s working method, the costs and resources used. But now (almost) 30 years later, the Charite prosthesis is still in place without anything. This kind of bad “collegial” commentary has always hurt Dr. Zeegers
and made very sad. We miss a great person, one to whom I will always be grateful for what he did for me.
Thank you Dr. Zeegers.
Dr. Zeegers heeft mijn leven veranderd
Na ruim 20 jaar zeunuwpijn rug been ben ik geopereerd in het maaslandziekenhuis
In Sittard waar hij een koolstofblokje heeft geplaatst (tussenwervelschijf met bot van de bekken.
Dit jaar 24jaar geleden.
Ben zo blij dat ik weer kan lopen en dat de erge pijn weg is.
Denk nog vaak aan hem.
RIP Dr. Zeegers and thank you so much for turning my life around ! I also had a L5S4 Charite Berlin Artificial Disc OP at the Alpha Klinik in Munich in 2005. I walked out of the OP Room first time without real back pain in years.
Still today I am in great shape, playing lots of Golf at 69 years old with a 16 HCP. Still hitting the Ball over 200 Meters.