When Kelvin Heck needed a total hip replacement, he turned to an advanced technology available at LMH Health that allowed his treatment to be delivered on an outpatient basis.

Heck, a rural land broker and owner of Heck Land Company in Lawrence, knew it was time to have his left hip replaced. He grew up farming and continues to live actively in the countryside, and he needed to stay in shape to keep enjoying the life he loves.

“I knew my left hip was starting to go south on me, so I had an X-ray done and we saw it was bone-on-bone,” Heck said. “It just became a matter of when to get it fixed. It wasn’t causing me a lot of trouble, but I knew I wanted to do the surgery on my terms — not on Mother Nature’s.”

Heck chose LMH Health because it was close to home and was strongly recommended to him by his personal trainer. In February, Dr. Adam Goodyear of OrthoKansas performed Heck’s total hip replacement.

Heck had his surgery in the morning and was discharged in the afternoon on the same day. He couldn’t believe how quickly he recovered.

“The recovery has been amazingly fast,” Heck said. “After taking it easy for the first few days, I went on with my life and back to the office as needed the next week.”

He only used a walker for one day after surgery, then a “cane” — his 9-iron — for one more day. Right after that, he was back to walking — and soon, back to his usual yard work and landscaping.

As for pain medication?

“Whatever they gave me the day of surgery was all I took,” Heck said. “I never had pain that was a problem, at all. It was just not an issue.”

Patients have access to top-of-the-line technology in the hospital’s advanced Mako robotic arm, an instrument that also performs partial and total knee replacements.

LMH Health has two Mako robots to serve patients — one at the main campus and another at the west campus — allowing for outpatient joint replacement surgery at the Lawrence Surgery Center. This technology was made possible in part by contributions to the LMH Health Foundation.

Goodyear said the Mako robotic arm has been proven to facilitate a shorter hospital stay, and that there’s typically less pain and a quicker return to function.

“Recent studies have demonstrated that patients have decreased levels of pain and shorter hospital stays when having a total joint replacement with the Mako system,” Goodyear said. “Our goal is always to provide our patients with proven, cutting-edge orthopedic surgical techniques and technology that can improve patient experience and outcomes.”

Goodyear said the Mako system can be more precise than traditional surgical techniques because it can create a 3D model of each patient’s joint.

“Using the system, physicians create a personalized surgical plan,” Goodyear said. “The robotic arm allows surgeons to work within the parameters created and use it to assist in placing new joints. Mako also allows us to perform both knee and hip replacements, which is something that other robotic surgical systems don’t do. Our patients receive the advanced care they deserve with the use of this technology.”

For anyone thinking about a joint replacement, Heck says to get it done sooner rather than later.

“There’s just no reason not to get it done,” Heck said. “You won’t be laid up for weeks and weeks, and it doesn’t interrupt your life hardly at all. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”

• • •

The LMH Health OrthoKansas team has earned the Joint Commission’s gold seal of approval for advanced total hip and knee replacement certification. LMH Health is one of two hospitals in Kansas to earn this designation, both west of the Kansas City metro area.

The certification, in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, recognizes the highest standards of care during a total hip or total knee replacement, from pre-surgical orthopedic consultation to intraoperative and post-surgical follow-up care.

“LMH Health OrthoKansas is a regional destination committed to providing patients with superior, comprehensive patient-centered musculoskeletal care,” said Russ Johnson, LMH Health president and CEO. “Our team of experts in orthopedic and sports medicine care provide innovative treatments for patients of all ages and abilities.”

The fact that these procedures are available close to home is also a draw for many patients, who can get treatment for orthopedic conditions without having to travel to a bigger city.

Johnson thanked LMH’s donors for the hospital’s ability to provide these types of treatments.

“When our community members partner with us, we all benefit,” Johnson said. “Because of donor support, our hospital continues to offer the best in patient care.”

— Courtney Bernard is the development coordinator for LMH Health Foundation. LMH Health is a major sponsor of the Journal-World’s Health section.