Total Hip Replacement in Kansas City

Total Hip Replacement


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Understanding the Basics Behind Total Hip Replacement


What is Total Hip Replacement?

When non-surgical measures, like physical therapy or medicinal treatment, and more conservative surgical treatments, like arthroscopy, aren’t enough to alleviate hip issues, it might be time to consider a total hip replacement.

A total hip replacement (or hip arthroplasty) removes damaged bone and cartilage that arises from arthritis or injuries. After removal, your surgeon will replace your old joint with an artificial prosthesis. Made from metal, ceramic, and/or plastic materials, these artificial joints replicate the ball-and-socket shape of a normal, healthy hip joint.

The highly trained orthopedic hip physicians at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance have the expertise required to treat a variety of hip issues, both surgically and non-surgically. When you visit a specialist at KCOA, we focus on creating a treatment plan based on your specific conditions, symptoms, and recovery goals.

Choosing total hip replacement in Kansas City is a decision that typically involves guidance from your primary care doctor and orthopedic physician.

When you choose Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, one of our highly trained orthopedic hip specialists will conduct an initial evaluation to better understand your condition. After a complete review of your results, your provider will then discuss the best treatment option for your specific hip condition.

Your First Appointment

Symptoms that may require a total hip replacement include:

  • Pain in your groin while sitting or walking
  • Hip pain or tightness with physical activity/sports
  • Pain along the side of your thigh and/or buttocks
  • Inability to stand up normally
  • Swelling in your hip or groin
  • Difficulty laying on or sleeping on your hip

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance hip Injuries Assessment


Assessing the Injury

Finding the right hip treatment in Kansas City starts with an assessment.

You can think of hip pain as a spectrum, with some instances being more severe than others. The KCOA orthopedic specialists always focus on each individual patient and their concerns before creating a treatment plan.

Therefore, during your initial appointment, we will often ask questions such as:

From there, we can decide which treatment option aligns best with your needs and lifestyle goals. After a proper assessment, we often begin with a physical examination to help determine the origin point of your pain. In some cases, advanced testing may be required for a full diagnosis.

  • Does your pain currently limit you or your activities?
  • Has your pain progressed or worsened recently?
  • Have you experienced any locking in your hip or an inability to stand or walk normally?
  • Have you noticed any change in your symptoms that has made it more challenging to function?
  • What are your lifestyle goals?
  • How has pain affected those goals?

Examination

X-Ray

Also called radiographs, an X-ray captures a picture of the hip. Orthopedic physicians may order an X-ray to rule out the possibility of a fracture (broken bone), osteoarthritis, or other hip-related conditions.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI captures images of muscles, bones, intervertebral discs, and tendons to help provide information other tests can’t detail. During an MRI, you will lie on a table that slides into a tube-shaped scanner. The machine creates a magnetic field around you, using pulsed radio waves to form the MRI images.

Diagnostic Injection

A physician inserts a needle in the hip and injects medicine into the joint. In most cases, the provider uses a real-time X-ray (fluoroscopy) or ultrasound to see where to place the needle in the joint. If the shot does not relieve pain within a few days, then the hip joint may not be the source of hip pain.

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Establishing a Care Plan

Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, our experts develop a custom care plan catered specifically to you.

Many people believe it’s best to wait until pain becomes severe, leading them to “put off” or delay treatments.

If you are in constant discomfort, have shooting or stabbing pains, have limited range of motion, or an inability to perform your daily activities, hip arthroscopy may be right for you.

New technologies allow patients with hip pain to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more functional, pain-free lifestyle.

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Pre-Op

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least 2 phone calls:

  • A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
  • A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

 

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

  • Pre-surgical laboratory tests
  • X-rays
  • Primary care clearance

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Pre-Op

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery.

Always check with your physician prior to surgery.

Most physicians require that patients not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery the next day.

Additionally, you will need a designated family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

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Day of Surgery

If you schedule your surgery with a KCOA physician, you can expect the following on surgery day: 

  • A receptionist will check you in at the hospital registration desk.
  • A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
  • Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
  • The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

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How it Works

When non-surgical options have been exhausted or are proving ineffective, it might be time for a total hip replacement. During this procedure, the damaged arthritic hip joint is replaced with an artificial prosthesis, typically made of metal, plastic, or ceramic.

This artificial joint mimics the motion patterns of a healthy joint to improve your range of motion, improve function, and decrease pain.

Total hip replacement in Kansas City is a major surgery that requires anesthesia. Once the anesthesia takes effect, your surgeon will make an incision so the hip joint is easily accessible.

We make the socket of the joint smooth through a process called reaming and remove the head of the femur. Your surgeon will then replace the damaged articular surfaces with prosthetic materials to allow pain-free movement and enhanced function. The entire surgery from the first incision until we completely dress the wound with surgical bandages takes about an hour and a half.

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Post-Op

After your surgery, our experienced clinical team will monitor you in recovery and provide pain relief medication, if needed.

Depending on your overall health, the type of replacement procedure performed and your physician’s preference you may require up to a 2 day stay in the hospital.

We will provide you with a walker to aid in ambulation immediately following surgery. During follow-up appointments, your physician will check the incision and do an X-ray, ensuring proper healing and alignment of the new hip.

Your physician may refer you to a physical therapist following surgery. If a referral is made to PT, it’s important you follow through with these orders so you can rebuild your strength, range of motion and function following a hip replacement surgery.

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What to Expect

Patients may be instructed to limit certain movements at the hip for up to 6 weeks after surgery to allow the soft tissue to heal.

These restrictions may include not bending at the waist greater than 90 degrees, avoiding excessive rotation of your hip, and avoiding crossing your legs.

Additionally, we recommend regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and monitoring your blood sugar levels if you’re diabetic.

In doing so, you may reduce the amount of stress on your joints to slow down any potential degenerative process.

Our Process

Causes

Causes of Hip Pain

First, it is important to understand the anatomy of a hip joint.

There are different types of joints in the body; the hip is a “ball-in-socket” joint. Just as the name suggests, a ball-in-socket joint consists of a ball-like structure that moves inside a depression in the bone to allow for rotational movements. In the hip, the ball-shaped head of your thigh bone (femur) that fits into the hip socket (acetabular socket) creates the joint.

Around the hip socket is a ring-shaped ligament called the labrum. This ligament has 3 main functions: Sealing the femoral head to keep fluids within the joint, helping stabilize the hip joint, and protecting the surrounding cartilage.

Treatment Alternatives

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance physicians prefer non-surgical measures in most cases. We usually only suggest surgical options after exhausting multiple less-invasive treatments. Here are a few of the different non-surgical treatments we recommend:

Non-surgical treatments for hip injuries include:

Movement can actually reduce pain and encourage healing in the hip, as movement increases circulation in the joint, supplying oxygen and other nutrients that support joint health and function.

Injections

Cortisone injections can help with inflammation, and the effects tend to last for 3 to 6 months before you might need another one. Many people manage their pain with injections and exercise.

At times, the pain becomes too much and hinders movement. In those instances, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil) or prescription medications. Especially with NSAIDs, you should always talk to your doctor to ensure they are the right treatment for you. Side effects can include stomach irritation, ulcers, or even kidney damage. Reasonable dosing and monitoring can help alleviate those side effects.

Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicines like stem cell injections or platelet-rich plasma can help nourish worn or damaged tissue. This option works best if you have mild-to-moderate hip pain.

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Preparing Your Home for Joint Replacement

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Trust KCOA with your total hip replacement in Kansas City.

Our care is personal. Our team is knowledgeable. And we’re more available than ever.

With access to board-certified specialists across Kansas City, we have the tools to meet almost every musculoskeletal condition.

Use our Symptom Tracker Tool to connect with the right KCOA physician for your unique needs—and get back to the things that matter most.

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Testimonials

Wouldn't go any place else

Wouldn’t go any place else to have orthopedic specialist. Facility is state of the art and rehabilitation program the best.
Edward Straley

I am impressed!

Very efficient, friendly and compassionate employees. I am impressed!
Marleah Trelease

Very helpful

Were able to fit us in last minute! Very helpful staff and knowledgeable provider. Very grateful for this practice!

Megan Fisher

Great care

Dr Van Den Berghe and his RNP Shannon are on top of the profession. Great care Great communication. All around great experience

Scott Guetzko

Professional

The first thing that I noticed was the traffic flow. This may sound strange but people were being seen and sent out on their way. There was not a huge roomful of frustrated, tired patients. If most (I assume) had uncomfortable and or painful maladies, they didn’t have to wait forever for attention. That was how it was for me. Professional and personable patient care.

Jillian Merrill