Back to the court: Coach Norm Roberts chooses orthopedic care at LMH Health

Norm Roberts is the picture of health. But the long-time assistant coach for the Kansas men’s basketball team has turned to OrthoKansas to undergo not one, but two, hip replacements over the past three years.

When Roberts knew he needed to seek care for pain in his right hip and leg, he turned to a trusted friend for advice. Bill Cowgill, the head trainer for the men’s basketball team at the University of Kansas, recommended that he make an appointment with Adam Goodyear, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoKansas specializing in knees and hips.

First look

Goodyear performed Roberts’ first hip replacement surgery at the LMH Health Main Campus in 2020 using an approach that has gained notoriety over the last 15 years — the direct anterior approach. Where a traditional surgical approach involves entering the hip from the side and back to place the new joint, Goodyear said that the direct anterior approach results in less pain and a quicker recovery.

Roberts began physical therapy soon afterward with a provider very familiar to the basketball team, former KU guard Tyrel Reed, now a physical therapist with LMH Health Therapy Services.

Round two — robotically

In August 2022, Roberts once again turned to OrthoKansas for replacement of his other hip, but this time, surgery was performed with the aid of the MAKO robotic arm.

“The MAKO system can be more precise than traditional surgical techniques. The system utilizes a preoperative CT scan to create a

3-D computer model of the patient’s joint. The 3-D model is utilized intraoperatively allowing the surgeon with the assistance of the robotic arm to place the implant with more precision,” Goodyear explained.

“While it doesn’t change the invasiveness of the approach, we typically cause less damage to soft tissues which can lead to less pain, less need for pain medication and a quicker recovery.”

LMH Health has two MAKO systems 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. Having cutting-edge technology would not be possible without the support of donors like Dana Anderson. He and his late wife, Sue, made a $1 million challenge gift in early 2020 to support the purchase of technology such as the MAKO robot.

“I can’t overstate how important it is to have people like Dana in the community who are willing to provide this level of support. It helps increase the quality of care patients receive right here in Lawrence,” Goodyear said. “People having a joint replacement here are getting care as good as or better than they would at any big city in the country. The quality is second to none.”

Roberts noticed a huge difference following this hip replacement.

“Having my hip replaced robotically, it was 100 percent better than the first one. I felt much less pain — all I really had was discomfort — and I was off of the pain medications in two days. My mobility was coming back even quicker than it did the first time,” he said.

When Roberts came in for a follow-up appointment two weeks after surgery, Goodyear was over the moon with his progress.

“You could tell he was several weeks ahead of where he was at the two-week mark with his other hip,” Goodyear remarked.

Final thoughts

Goodyear and Reed both agree that Roberts’ prognosis is excellent, and he is bouncing back well from his latest hip replacement.

Roberts is ready to be back on the court as the Jayhawks begin the defense of their national title. He recommends turning to the experts at OrthoKansas for world-class care close to home when you need treatment for orthopedic and musculoskeletal issues.

“There’s a comfortable feeling about being at LMH Health and OrthoKansas. They want your surgery to be successful and for you to be knowledgeable about everything going on. I couldn’t be happier to have chosen LMH for my care.”

Read the full story at LMH.org/NormRoberts.