Hip Resurfacing in Kansas City

Hip Resurfacing

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Understanding the Basics Behind Total Hip Resurfacing

What is Hip Resurfacing?

Hip pain affects millions of people, taking them away from the activities they love.

For active people who aren’t seeing the results they want from non-surgical measures, hip resurfacing in Kansas City could be the solution to their problems.

Hip resurfacing is similar to total hip replacement, in that the surgeon smooths down the hip socket and replaces it with a prosthetic shell. Unlike a total hip replacement, however, the femoral head is not removed in a hip resurfacing procedure, but trimmed down and capped with a smooth prosthetic covering.

Choosing hip resurfacing 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

Common signs of osteoarthritis 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, you can expect 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 resurfacing 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.

02/06

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

03/06

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.

04/06

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.

05/06

How it Works

When non-surgical options have been exhausted or are proving ineffective, it might be time to consider hip resurfacing. In a hip resurfacing procedure, the hip socket is smoothed down and replaced with a prosthetic shell.

This artificial joint mimics the motion patterns of a healthy joint to improve your range of motion, function and may significantly improve or eliminate your pain.

Unlike a total hip replacement, however, in a hip resurfacing procedure the surgeon does not remove the femoral head, but trims it down and caps it with a smooth prosthetic covering.

Hip resurfacing 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. From there, your surgeon makes the socket of the joint smooth through a process called reaming.

Then, they replace the damaged articular surface with a shell made of metal or other materials to allow pain-free movement and enhanced function.

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Post-Op & What to Expect

After your surgery, you will remain in the recovery room before being discharged. Our experienced clinical team will monitor you during this recovery and provide pain relief medication, if needed.

You may need crutches or another assistive device for the first couple of weeks after surgery to aid in mobility and to ensure you’re not putting too much stress on the repaired joint.

Your physician may refer you to a physical therapist to begin rehabilitation shortly after surgery. It’s crucial to follow through with physical therapy to rebuild strength and regain range of motion.

It’s important you monitor your incision sites to ensure they are kept clean, dry and free from infection. You will be sore and the area may be bruised and swollen—that’s to be expected. Pay attention to your body and be sure to report any concerns to your care team.

Our Process

Symptoms

Common Signs and Symptoms of Hip Injuries

Determining whether you have a hip injury severe enough for hip resurfacing in Kansas City requires a visit to a physician, along with an X-ray and/or MRI examination.

If you’re dealing with a loss of function or severe pain, the highly trained orthopedic hip physicians at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance have the expertise required to treat a variety of hip issues. When you visit a specialist at KCOA, we focus on creating a treatment plan based on your specific conditions, symptoms, and recovery goals.

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

Non-Surgical Options

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance physicians prefer non-surgical measures in most cases. We usually only suggest surgical options after exhausting multiple less-invasive treatments. Non-surgical treatments for hip injuries include:

Seeking out guidance from a trained therapist to help restore function and strength is often a preferred treatment. Therapists are experts in the musculoskeletal system and their ability to assist with manual techniques or exercise instruction can lead to excellent outcomes.

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 Medicines

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.

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find expert orthopedic care in Kansas City at KCOA.

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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Our Locations

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Overland Park, Kansas

10777 Nall Ave Suite 300 Overland Park, KS 66211

Leawood, Kansas

3651 College Blvd. Leawood, KS 66211

Kansas City, Missouri

Saint Luke's Medical Plaza #1 4320 Wornall Rd., Ste. 610 Kansas City, MO 64111

Belton, Missouri

Belton Regional Campus 17067 S Outer Rd #301 Belton, MO 64012

Blue Springs, Missouri

St. Mary’s Medical Center, Main Entrance 203 NW R.D. Mize Road, Suite 250 Blue Springs, MO 64014

Shawnee Mission, Kansas

7450 Kessler St ste. 140 Merriam, KS 66204

Prairie Star (Lenexa, Kansas)

Prairie Star 23401 Prairie Star Pkwy
Bldg. B, Ste. 220 Lenexa, KS 66227

Testimonials

The best staff.

The best staff. Everyone in this office are extremely friendly. I would recommend this office to anyone.

Cecilia Buchanan

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

Great people

Great people who are very willing to help you work through the best way to handle your injury.

Kathy Martinez

Some of the best doctors

I have been going to the doctors here for many things and for many years. They have some of the best doctors and surgeons around and when you need something repaired one of the doctors there who’s speciality it is will have your x-rays and MRIs scheduled and the hospital setup in only a few days. They explain everything you should know and so you can understand it and best of all you don’t have to wait a week to a month for an appointment.

Gary Austin

I left a very happy patient.

…I arrived a little bit late. I got checked in quickly and was back in a room within 10 minutes. Dr Rhodes was very friendly and took the time to pull up pictures of my surgery and show them and explain them to me. I left a very happy patient.

Michael Bachmann