Joint Replacement Surgery

Joint Replacement Surgery - Kirby Hitt: Doctor and Designer

Designing a New Future in Orthopedic Surgery

From Quarterly (Winter 2004)

Knowing what will work for the patient

A specialty-trained physician on the Scott & White staff for over 10 years, Dr. Kirby Hitt, Director of the Division of Adult Reconstructive Surgery, has done more for his patients than give them new hips and knees; he has created ideas for new technology and new devices that have helped thousands of patients walk into a new lifestyle, free of pain.

Because of his experience in joint replacement, Dr. Hitt was approached several years ago by a leading developer of orthopedic products, such as hip, knee, trauma and spinal implants, to join their development team.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to be on both sides of the joint replacement industry,” Dr. Hitt said. “As a surgeon, I know what works and what doesn’t, and it’s exciting to be able to bring in new ideas and be involved in creating innovations to benefit the patients.”

New designs, better procedures
Dr. Hitt has contributed to many different designs now on the market, and for several years has been involved in research to design a new knee replacement joint, one that would allow for increased range of motion. He says his goal was to find a joint that was closer to the normal function of the knee, allowing for better flexibility in bending, twisting and turning. The new joint has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

He also has been involved in the design of another knee implant that would allow a physician to perform a muscle-sparing surgery, which means the doctor is able to replace a knee joint by going around and through the muscle, without actually cutting into it.

With roles as a doctor and a designer, Dr. Hitt says he has one main goal that encompasses both areas.

“We are working on things that make it easier for surgeons to perform procedures that will improve a patient’s quality of life. With new designs and minimally-invasive procedures, we can decrease recovery time and level of pain, while still offering state-of-the-art care.”