For Patients Outside of Colorado
I recognize that having a surgery outside of your home state is at first something that is hard to consider. My surgical product is unique and is worth making the effort especially if you are not confident with the surgical recommendations that you are getting in your local medical community. To make having your surgery in Denver easier, I developed this travel program in 2014. My goal with this is to provide a provisional assessment of your hip by evaluating your studies, your clinical information and discussing all of this by phone or telehealth with one of my nurse practitioners to determine if you would benefit from my surgery without having to travel to Denver. Nothing can truly replace a face-to-face visit in my office, but this offers an opportunity to limit travel, save money and efficiently and conveniently determine the best course of action for your hip pain.
To begin this process, please put together the following and send them to Western Orthopaedics in Denver:
- Complete the “Initial Patient Information,” “Dr. White Initial Patient Evaluation Form,” and “Research Forms”
- X-rays on a disk- AP pelvis and lateral view of your hip. I prefer a cross table lateral view if possible.
- MRI of your hip on a disk. *It must also have the Radiologist’s report as well.
- If you had a previous hip arthroscopy, please include color copies of the arthroscopic images and the operative report. These can be obtained from your Surgeon’s office.
- It is sometimes helpful to provide a short summary of what you have experienced with your hip pain
- Get an injection of numbing agent or steroid into your hip joint and provide us with information as to what percentage of your pain went away with this injection.
There is no fee for this assessment. Once we have all of this information and have reviewed your studies, a member of my team will arrange a telehealth or phone call to review this with you. Please send all of the above to:
Brian J. White MD
Western Orthopaedics
500 E Hampden Ave, Suite 400
Englewood, Colorado 80110
If after our discussion and assessment, we both feel that surgery is the best option, then there are 2 options:
- Consultation appointment with me in Denver
- Consultation appointment with surgery scheduled the next day
Together we will decide which is the most appropriate and convenient.
For Your Surgery
I recommend hotels in the Denver Tech Center as they are conveniently located close to my office, physical therapy and Swedish Medical Center.
Most patients discharge from the hospital on the day after surgery, but some occasionally require an additional day before it is safe to discharge. Typically, patients who drive can do so the day they discharge from the hospital. For those that are flying, sometimes it is best to give yourself an extra day to make sure that you can make your flight.
After Surgery
Physical Therapy
I do not recommend staying in Denver for an extended period after your surgery to do Physical Therapy. I would rather you get home and get settled and use those resources instead for Zoom services with Jordan May at Resurrection Wellness- 720-624-6091. The physical therapy after your surgery is critically important, and I recommend that all patients who travel see Jordan on the Wednesday that you see me for a consultation and then arrange for Zoom PT sessions at least once a month with Jordan and your PT at home. It is best for these sessions to occur with you, your PT and Jordan in your PT’s office so that Jordan can collaborate with your Physical Therapist and guide them through the protocol and ensure that you stay on the right path for your recovery. This is even more valuable if your arthroscopic surgery is combined with a Ganz Osteotomy or a Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction, is a revision operation or if you are simply a little more complex.
If you are seeing Resurrection Wellness, their recommended appointment and pricing plan information for our patients can be found in this document.
Follow-up Visits
I typically see patients who have their surgery in Denver at 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months. If your travel is more than 1 hour, I do not recommend traveling to Denver for your 2-week appointment. Sutures are a figure of eight nylon suture and need to be removed at this time. Please have them removed by your Physical Therapist or Primary Care Physician.
Ideally, I would recommend a clinic appointment in Denver at 2 months and 4 months. Any time that you come to see us, please also make an appointment to see Jordan May PT in her office to ensure that you are on track with your recovery. If these 2 visits are not possible, then an appointment at 3 months would be the best compromise.
We can also arrange telehealth appointments at the 2-week, 2-month, 4-month and 6- month appointments for those unable to travel to Denver again after their surgery. My goal is that we are available to all of your needs after surgery and that we can provide flexible options for you so that we can guide you through the recovery process and ensure that you achieve the best possible result.