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Outpatient focus
For appropriately selected patients, hip or knee replacement may be performed with discharge home the same day and a structured recovery plan.
A focused approach to joint replacement
What stands out about Dr. Hirshorn’s approach
The practice emphasizes advanced, minimally invasive hip and knee replacement, outpatient pathways when appropriate, and techniques intended to preserve soft tissues and support early mobility. Surgical approach and outpatient eligibility are individualized.
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Soft-tissue conscious
Dr. Hirshorn uses approaches designed to limit unnecessary disruption of muscles and tendons while still allowing accurate joint reconstruction.
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Preparation matters
Medical optimization, medication review, testing, strength and mobility before surgery are treated as important parts of the surgical plan.
Tampa Bay joint care
Hip and knee care for St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater
Dr. Kurt Hirshorn is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement and revision surgery. Patients throughout Tampa Bay can visit the St. Petersburg and South Pasadena offices.
Outpatient hip replacement
Learn about minimally invasive hip replacement and recovery.
Subvastus knee replacement
Explore outpatient, quad-sparing and tourniquetless knee replacement.
Hip and knee revision
Evaluation and planning for an existing joint replacement.
Procedures
Hip and knee surgery centered on movement
Total hip replacement
Replaces the worn ball-and-socket surfaces of the hip with durable implant components. The goal is to reduce arthritis pain and improve function, walking and everyday activity.
Total knee replacement
Resurfaces damaged portions of the femur and tibia and places smooth implant components with a bearing surface between them. The goal is to reduce arthritic pain, restore alignment and improve useful motion.
Complex hip & knee reconstruction
Evaluation and surgical treatment of more complex joint-replacement problems, including selected revision situations.
Outpatient joint replacement
A coordinated pathway that may allow selected patients to return home the day of surgery, with preoperative optimization, anesthesia planning, pain control and early mobilization.
Total knee replacement
Dr. Hirshorn’s quad-sparing knee replacement
Subvastus approach: no cutting of the quadriceps muscle or tendon.
Dr. Hirshorn uses a quad-sparing subvastus approach, reaching the knee beneath the vastus medialis muscle while keeping the quadriceps muscle and tendon intact.
How quad-sparing differs from traditional approaches
Dr. Hirshorn’s subvastus approach: The muscle is lifted to access the joint from beneath it, without cutting the quadriceps muscle or quadriceps tendon.
Traditional medial parapatellar approach: Access typically involves an incision through part of the quadriceps tendon. Other approaches, such as midvastus, split muscle fibers.
“Quad-sparing” describes preservation of the quadriceps muscle and tendon during surgical access. Skin and joint capsule are still opened to reach the knee.
Tourniquet-less knee replacement
Dr. Hirshorn’s stated technique avoids routine tourniquet inflation. Reviews report that tourniquet-less TKA can be associated with less postoperative pain and improved early function; evidence does not show every proposed benefit in every patient, and blood-management technique remains important.
Total hip replacement
SPARE / mini-posterior hip replacement
What “mini-posterior” means
A mini-posterior approach reaches the hip through a smaller posterior exposure while aiming to limit soft-tissue disruption. A “SPARE” or muscle-sparing variation is intended to preserve selected tendons and muscles when anatomy and surgical conditions allow.
Potential advantages of tissue-sparing approaches can include less early discomfort and easier early mobility, but results depend on patient factors, implant positioning, rehabilitation and surgeon technique. The safest approach is the one appropriate for the individual patient.
Education & training
Kurt Hirshorn, MD, MPH
Education
- Bachelor of Science (BS), University of Florida
- Master of Public Health (MPH), University of South Florida
- Medical Doctor (MD), University of South Florida
Orthopaedic surgery residency
- Atlanta Medical Center / Grady Trauma Hospital / Emory University
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Assistant Team Physician — Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
- Assistant Team Physician — Atlanta Thrashers (NHL)
Fellowship training
- Advanced and minimally invasive hip and knee replacement and revision surgery
- Complex hip and knee reconstruction surgery
- Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH University
Credential details on this page reflect information supplied by the practice for this patient-facing draft.
Before surgery
Get optimized. Stay strong. Arrive prepared.
See your primary care provider for medical optimization and clearance before surgery. Keep moving and stay as strong as you comfortably can while following your clinicians’ advice.
Medical evaluation
Review your medical history, current conditions and medications.
Labs & testing
Your provider may order blood work and other testing, such as an EKG, when appropriate.
Review medications
Discuss all medications with your surgical team, including blood thinners, GLP-1 medications, rheumatologic medications, supplements and vitamins. Follow individualized instructions from your clinicians.
Ready for the next step?
Questions, scheduling and medical concerns
Scheduling & coordination
Kadean GreenPhysician Surgical Administrator
727-369-5014
Fax: 727-369-0316
Kadean will call you to schedule surgery and help coordinate medical clearances, insurance authorization and work/FMLA paperwork.
Medical questions or concerns
Pat Wilson, PA-CPlease call and leave a detailed message.
727-369-5038
Dr. Hirshorn’s office locations
Florida Orthopaedic Institute
St. Petersburg — 5th Street office
10051 5th Street NorthSt. Petersburg, FL 33702
Florida Orthopaedic Institute
Palms of Pasadena office
1615 Pasadena Avenue South, Suite 150South Pasadena, FL 33707
Patient-information note: This website draft is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice. Outcomes and eligibility for outpatient surgery vary. Evidence cited above supports cautious descriptions of subvastus and tourniquet-less knee replacement; claims are intentionally phrased as potential or early benefits rather than guarantees. Sources include peer-reviewed reviews indexed by PubMed/PMC.