Services

Dr. Kuesis performs a full range of orthopedic procedures for the hip and knee, specializing in minimally invasive surgeries and arthroscopy, as well as total hip replacement and total knee replacement. He also specializes in a less invasive, new hip replacement operation called Direct Anterior Approach.

An anterior hip replacement surgery replaces diseased or damaged portions of the hip with implants designed to restore function to the hip joint. Instead of a more traditional incision to the side or back of the hip joint, Dr. Kuesis uses an incision to the anterolateral portion of the hip. The anterior incision allows Dr. Kuesis to work between the major muscles of the hip, preserving muscle tissue. The anterior approach is less invasive and minimizes recovery time.

Just like in a traditional hip replacement, the damaged head of the femur is removed and then any cartilage and bone from the hip socket is removed. A metal socket is placed into the hip cavity and a liner is pressed into the hip socket, completing the artificial socket. The end of the femur is hollowed out and a metal implant with a stem is placed into the top of the femur. A metal or ceramic ball is attached to the stem and the new ball and socket components are joined to form the new hip joint.

The total knee replacement procedure restores function to a severely damaged knee, most commonly a knee that has been damaged by arthritis. The damaged portion of the knee is replaced with the following artificial parts: a metal femoral component, a metal tibial component, a plastic spacer, and sometimes a small plastic patellar component.

A small incision is made to the front of the knee before the knee cap is gently moved out of the way, exposing the joint. The damaged ends of the femur and tibia are carefully trimmed away. Cartilage and a small amount of underlying bone is also removed. The bone is then reshaped, creating a stable platform for the artificial components. Bone cement may be applied to stabilize the components. The metal femoral and tibial components are inserted, and the plastic spacer is secured to the tibial component, which allows the femoral component to glide smoothly as the knee is being used. Dr. Kuesis may also choose to resurface the knee cap by carefully trimming away the back of the knee cap and replacing it with a small, plastic cap. The new components will then be tested to make sure the knee flexes and extends in a fluid, natural motion. The incision is then closed, and the knee is bandaged.