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FAQS

Click on the questions below to reveal the answers.

General Questions:

At Advanced Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists, we strive to return patients of all ages, at all levels of activity and who have a variety of orthopedic conditions to their peak performance as quickly as possible. Our physicians prescribe the most appropriate treatment options for the injury. That is the benefit of Advanced Orthopedic; we offer treatment options from physical therapy to non-surgical options to advanced surgery all under one roof.

Unfortunately, there is not a universal answer to that question. Insurance companies have different coverage policies. So, at Advanced Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists, we work with each patient and his or her insurance company to determine the best possible solution.

The surgical assistant is a critical part of the patient-centric care our team at Advanced Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists provides its patients. They aid in exposure, hemostasis, closure and other intraoperative technical functions that help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient.

No, anyone under the age of 18 can not be seen by any of our staff or physicians without a guardian present. If a legal guardian cannot be present, another adult may accompany the minor with a signed guardian permission. A simple letter identifying the temporary guardian for the specific date of service. The temporary guardian should come prepared to the visit with a photo ID.

No, due to the laws issued by the State of Colorado, we are not able to call in prescriptions for pain medication. You must come to one of our office locations during regular business hours to receive a printed prescription to turn into your pharmacy. Providing pain medication prescriptions to patients post-operative, is at the sole discretion of the physician. A request of medications can be denied for several reasons including PDMP data and at the discretion of the provider.

Medical records can only be released to or by formal of the patient. If the patient is under the age of 18, the records can be released to the patients guardian on file. Due to HIPAA regulations, records cannot be released to any other recipient unless the patient has filled out and signed a Record Release form. You may find a copy of our Records Release form by clicking here.

Hip Questions:

A Hip Replacement involves a surgical procedure to replace part or all of a diseased or damaged hip joint with an artificial substitute-a prosthetic hip joint. The operation to replace or mend a joint is known as ‘arthroplasty’. The aim of a Hip Replacement is to alleviate pain and restore function in the hip joint.

A Hip Replacement may become necessary to prevent pain and increase mobility if your hip joint is damaged as a result of disease or injury. The most common cause of Hip Replacements is osteoarthritis, but the procedure may also be necessary for people with rheumatoid arthritis, osteonecrosis, bone tumours or a fracture or dislocation affecting the hip joint.

Hip Replacements may not be recommended for people who have a high likelihood of injury, such as people with Parkinson’s disease or a significant weakness of the muscles.

You may feel some numbness in the skin around your incision. You also may feel some stiffness, particularly with excessive bending. These differences often diminish with time and most patients find these are minor compared to the pain and limited function they experienced prior to surgery.

Your new hip may activate metal detectors required for security in airports and some buildings. Tell the security agent about your Hip Replacement if the alarm is activated.

Knee Questions:

Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease- the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is also known as “wear and tear arthritis” since the cartilage simply wears out. When cartilage wears away, bone rubs on bone causing severe pain and disability. The most frequent reason for osteoarthritis is genetic, since the durability of each individual’s cartilage is based on genetics.

Trauma- can also lead to osteoarthritis. A bad fall or blow to the Knee can injure the joint. If the injury does not heal properly, extra force may be placed on the joint, which over time can cause the cartilage to wear away.

Inflammatory Arthritis- swelling and heat (inflammation) of the joint lining causes a release of enzymes which soften and eventually destroy the cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus and Psoriatic arthritis are inflammatory in nature.

Knee Replacement is removing the edges of the joint that have been diseased by degeneration or trauma. Knee Resurfacing is like a retread. The only part of the joint that is resurfaced is the side of the joint that is diseased.

Revision surgery is different in that the original components are removed and new components are implanted. The technical aspects of the surgery are more complex than the original total Knee Replacement. However, the preparation for surgery and hospital experience tend to be very similar to the primary Knee Replacement.

If a Knee is infected the patient is first given antibiotics. If the infection does not clear up, the implant will have to be taken out and the patient is scheduled for revision surgery. The original components are removed and a block of polyethylene cement treated with antibiotics (known as a “spacer block”) is inserted into the Knee joint for six weeks. During this time the patient is also treated with intravenous (I.V.) antibiotics. After a minimum of six weeks, new Knee components are implanted.

You may feel some numbness in the skin around your incision. You also may feel some stiffness, particularly with excessive bending activities. Improvement of Knee motion is a goal of total Knee Replacement, but restoration of full motion is uncommon. The motion of your Knee Replacement after surgery is predicted by the motion of your Knee prior to surgery. Most patients can expect to nearly fully straighten the replaced Knee and to bend the Knee sufficiently to go up and down stairs and get in and out of a car. Kneeling is usually uncomfortable, but it is not harmful. Occasionally, you may feel some soft clicking of the metal and plastic with Knee bending or walking. These differences often diminish with time and most patients find these are minor, compared to the pain and limited function they experienced prior to surgery.

Your new Knee may activate metal detectors required for security in airports and some buildings. Tell the security agent about your Knee Replacement if the alarm is activated. Find out more from your doctor on special precautions and special exercise programs.

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