The first 48

Checking In For Surgery

Upon arrival, you will be led to your room, where our nurses will review everything with you once more before you sign the necessary consent forms. Please have your insurance card with you.

Once complete, you will change into your gown, and your IV will be started.

Finally, Dr. Kuesis will stop by to assign your hip (visibly mark the knee that will be operated on) and give you medication for relaxation.

*Due to Covid-19 protocols, only one family member may accompany you to your surgery. 

Day of Surgery

The medical professionals at CORE Orthopedics know that knee replacement surgery is a big commitment. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring there are no surprises, especially on the day of surgery. Here’s what you can expect to happen during the knee replacement surgery process:

1. 1. First, you’ll be admitted to the hospital or surgery center and you’ll complete any necessary intake paperwork/forms before you are taken back and given a room.
2. 2. A nurse will record your vital signs — temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.
3. 3. You’ll be asked to change into a clean hospital gown. Your nurse will instruct you on what articles of clothing need to be removed. You might be allowed to leave on undergarments for comfortability.
4. 4. You’ll be asked to remove all jewelry, dentures, contact lenses, and nail polish if you haven’t done so already. We always recommend arriving at the site of your surgery with these things already removed to make your life one step simpler.
5. 5. You’ll be given an IV to administer fluids and medication during and after the procedure.
6. 6. Your knee will be scrubbed and shaved to clean the area and prepare for surgery.
7. 7. An anesthesiologist will discuss the type of anesthesia that will be used and administer it.
8. 8. Your surgeon will confirm and initial the surgical site.
9. 9. You will be given a sedative to help relax.
10. 10. You will be taken back to the OR suite

How is Hip Surgery Preformed

Hip surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon removes the damaged bone and cartilage of a hip joint with arthritis and replaces it with a smooth, artificial joint implant often made of metal or plastic components.

The goals of hip surgery vary from patient to patient but often include the elimination of joint pain caused by bone-on-bone contact.

The physicians at CORE Orthopedics and Sports Medicine recommend hip replacement surgery after other, more conservative measures have failed to provide pain relief. While hip surgery is a big decision since it’s a major surgery that requires extensive after-care, it has drastically improved the quality of life in a large percentage of patients.

The Implant

At CORE Orthopedics, we use hip replacement implants that consist of four components:

• • A hip stem is implanted in the thigh bone shaft or femur. The implant is usually made of a biocompatible metal like titanium;
• • A femoral head to replace the “ball” part of the hip’s ball and socket design;
• • A two-part hemispherical or “cup-like” component comprised of a metal shell and a plastic liner;
• • New femoral head which sits inside the plastic liner and rotates to recreate the movement of the original joint.

The Procedure

The hip replacement procedure is usually done one of two ways. The first way is the traditional procedure, which is more invasive and requires a larger incision, while the second way is considered minimally invasive.

In standard hip replacement surgeries, your surgeon will adhere to the following steps:

1. 1. Administer anesthesia to relax your muscles and put you into a deep sleep
2. 2. Cut an 8-10 inch incision along the side of your hip and move the muscles connected to the thigh bone to expose the hip joint
3. 3. Remove the ball part of the joint by cutting the thigh bone
4. 4. Attach the artificial joint to the thigh bone using cement or other material
5. 5. Attach the replacement socket to the hip bone
6. 6. Reattach the muscles and close the incision

Most hip replacements are performed this way, but sometimes a less invasive technique can be used so that incisions are only 2 to 5 inches long. This technique is thought to help lower the amount of blood lost during surgery.

Your surgeon will discuss the technique they recommend for your particular case while you are still in the decision stages of your hip replacement surgery.

*Important Safety Note: Hip replacement surgery is intended to relieve hip pain and improve hip function. However, implants may not produce the same feel or function as your original hip. There are potential risks with hip replacement surgery such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear and infection that may result in the need for additional surgery. Longevity of implants depends on many factors, such as types of activities and weight. Do not perform high impact activities such as running and jumping unless your surgeon tells you the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. Early device failure, breakage or loosening may occur if you do not follow your surgeon’s limitations on activity level. Early failure can happen if you do not guard your hip joint from overloading due to activity level, failure to control body weight, or accidents such as falls. Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you.