Dr. Michael Leighton, MD

On the show

“This is the best operation that’s done in orthopedics… the single best operation that Medicare pays for.”

Dr. Leighton, whom Dave has referred patients to since 1994, broke down total hip replacement, including the anterior and posterior approaches and why he steers heavier or older patients toward the posterior approach. He puts lifetime infection risk at under 1 to 2 percent, higher in smokers, nicotine vapers and diabetics with an A1C above 7.5, and explained why dental hygiene matters before joint surgery and why bone needs about six weeks to grow into a modern non cemented implant. He also noted that most of the old dislocation precautions are gone.

Background

• He specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the knee and shoulder, as well as total joint replacement of the knee, hip and shoulder, and has practiced in Palm Beach County since 1994.
• He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and holds its subspecialty certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.
• He earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at Duke University and his medical degree at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (Rutgers), where he also completed his residency.
• He completed a sports medicine fellowship at Rush St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago in 1994.
• He performs both posterior and direct anterior total hip replacement using minimally invasive techniques, and robotic assisted (Mako) total and partial knee replacement.
• He serves as team physician for local high schools and sits on the Board of Governors of Jupiter Medical Center.

Watch the episode

Play: Total Hip Replacement, Explained: Anterior vs. Posterior

Episode 12

Total Hip Replacement, Explained: Anterior vs. Posterior

Dr. Michael Leighton, MD

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Leighton breaks down total hip replacement in plain English: the anterior versus posterior approach, what actually drives infection risk, and the flat Medicare payment that covers the surgery and 90 days of follow-up care.

Watch on YouTube →

• ▶Play clip: He’d never had a surgical infection.

  He’d never had a surgical infection.

• ▶Play clip: Mike guessed $136,014.

  Mike guessed $136,014.

• ▶Play clip: A bigger belly changes which hip surgery you’re a candidate for.

  A bigger belly changes which hip surgery you’re a candidate for.

• ▶Play clip: A week in the hospital.

  A week in the hospital.

• ▶Play clip: Vaping before surgery?

  Vaping before surgery?

• ▶Play clip: Losing 20 pounds can open up a surgery option you didn’t have before.

  Losing 20 pounds can open up a surgery option you didn’t have before.

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