Hip Replacement Surgeon in Nashville, TN: Dr. Damon H. Petty
When hip pain starts waking you up at night, when stairs become something to dread, when cortisone shots that used to buy you six months of relief now last six weeks, it is time to talk to a hip replacement surgeon in Nashville who can lay out every option honestly, not just the ones that fit a single surgical playbook.
Dr. Damon H. Petty is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist with over 25 years of experience treating hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow disorders in Nashville. He served as Head Orthopedic Team Physician for the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2026, has been team physician for Tennessee State University for the last 15 years, and was the head orthopedic doctor for the Nashville Sounds during their Pittsburgh Pirates affiliation. He practices through Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) in Nashville.
What makes his hip practice different from other hip replacement surgeons in Nashville is the range of procedures he actually performs. Dr. Petty is one of the only surgeons in the region offering both Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) and the full spectrum of total hip replacement, which means your treatment plan is built around your anatomy, age, and activity goals, not around a single surgical option.
Hip Replacement Options in Nashville: From Resurfacing to Total Replacement
There is no single right way to replace a hip. The best approach depends on your age, your bone quality, how active you are, and what you want your hip to do for the next 20 or 30 years. Dr. Petty performs both hip resurfacing and total hip replacement, selecting the approach that gives you the best combination of durability, function, and long-term success.
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) preserves your own femoral head by capping it with a smooth metal surface. It is the most bone-preserving hip replacement available and offers a realistic path back to high-impact athletics for the right candidate.
Total Hip Replacement (THR) removes the damaged femoral head and replaces the entire joint with a modern implant system, typically through a minimally invasive approach. It is the gold standard for severe arthritis, avascular necrosis, and post-traumatic hip damage, with satisfaction rates above 95% and implant longevity that now exceeds 20 years in most patients.
Dr. Petty walks you through both pathways at your consultation. If BHR is the right fit for your anatomy and activity level, he will tell you. If total hip replacement is the better choice, he will tell you that too. The decision is driven by what your hip actually needs.
When Do You Need Hip Replacement Surgery?
Hip replacement is not the first step for hip pain. It is the right step when your hip has deteriorated beyond what physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, activity modification, and joint injections can manage. Common conditions that lead to hip replacement include:
Osteoarthritis
(Wear-and-tear loss of cartilage, the most common reason for hip replacement.)
Avascular necrosis
(Loss of blood supply to the femoral head, often idiopathic or post-traumatic.)
Rheumatoid arthritis
And other inflammatory arthropathies.
Hip dysplasia
(Developmental shallow socket) with secondary arthritis.
Post-traumatic arthritis
Following hip fracture.
Failed previous hip surgery
Including revision of a worn or malpositioned implant.
Signs that conservative treatment has run its course include pain that wakes you up at night, pain at rest when you are not even using the hip, a growing dependence on daily pain medication, stiffness that limits putting on socks or shoes, and the sense that your hip is no longer reliable enough to trust.
When that is where you are, it is time to get a clear picture of your hip from an experienced surgeon. Imaging, physical examination, and a conversation about your goals will tell you whether hip replacement belongs on your path.
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR): Bone-Preserving Hip Replacement for Active Patients
Dr. Petty has performed the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure for over 25 years, following specialized training with Dr. Peter Brooks of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the pioneers in advanced hip reconstruction.
Unlike traditional total hip replacement, BHR does not remove the femoral head. Instead, the head is reshaped and capped with a smooth spherical cover made of cobalt, chrome, molybdenum, and titanium. The acetabulum (socket) is fitted with a matching metal shell, creating a durable metal-on-metal articulation engineered for strength, stability, and bone preservation. Because the femoral head is kept in place, the procedure retains the natural biomechanics of the hip better than any other replacement option.
For the right candidate, BHR offers:
Maximum Bone Preservation
Leaving the door open for future surgical options decades later.
Proven Long-Term Results
Greater than 98% survivorship at 20 years in properly selected male patients.
Natural Hip Biomechanics
Biomechanics that closely replicate the natural hip
Return to High-Impact Activity
A realistic path back to high-impact athletics
The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing system has allowed athletes to resume their careers in professional and Olympic-level competition, including the NBA, NHL, and Olympic fencing. Traditional total hip replacements have not been able to deliver that level of post-operative performance.
Two important notes on BHR:
The system is FDA-approved in the United States for male patients only, and careful patient selection is critical. The second is that production of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing system is phasing out with limited availability. Dr. Petty remains optimistic about emerging alternatives and actively tracks the next generation of resurfacing technologies. If BHR is the right match for your hip, Dr. Petty will discuss timing, supply, and next-generation options during your consultation.
Total Hip Replacement: Advanced Implant Technology and Computer Navigation
Conventional total hip replacement remains an excellent joint replacement option for severe arthritis, avascular necrosis, and post-traumatic damage to the hip joint. Patient satisfaction rates are among the highest in all of joint arthroplasty, with more than 95% of patients reporting high satisfaction. New implant technologies and bearing surfaces have extended typical implant longevity to over 20 years.
Dr. Petty selects implants based on your individual anatomy and activity demands rather than a one-size-fits-all system. Using premium Zimmer components, he achieves low complication rates and outstanding long-term durability through meticulous surgical technique. Common component options include:
-
Taperloc stem for strong biological fixation
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G7 Acetabular System for reliable socket geometry
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Zimmer Biomet ceramic femoral heads for durability and reduced wear
Precise component positioning is one of the most important predictors of a long-lasting hip replacement. A cup that is off by a few degrees or a leg length that is off by a few millimeters can cause dislocation, limp, or accelerated implant wear. To place components with millimeter-level accuracy, Dr. Petty uses the HipInsight computer navigation system, which assists with cup orientation, leg-length equality, and restoration of natural hip biomechanics during surgery.
The result is a hip replacement that is not just successful in the operating room but successful 10, 15, and 20 years later, when most patients are still enjoying full function and pain-free movement.
The Hip Replacement Procedure: What to Expect
The hip replacement procedure is performed under general anesthesia, usually with a supplemental regional nerve block for pain control. For qualifying patients, it is an outpatient surgery, which means you go home the same day with clear instructions, a walker or cane, and a physical therapy plan.
1.
Pre-operative planning
Imaging, lab work, medical clearance, and a pre-op education visit. You and your designated care partner both attend so everyone understands the process.
2.
Surgical approach
Dr. Petty uses the surgical approach that best fits your anatomy and goals, ranging from the direct anterior approach (which works between muscle planes rather than cutting through them) to the traditional posterior approach. Every minimally invasive technique is designed to preserve muscle and soft tissue, reduce blood loss, and speed recovery while allowing precise implant placement.
3.
Precise component placement
The damaged femoral head is removed (or reshaped in BHR), the socket is prepared, and the implants are placed using HipInsight computer navigation for accuracy. Trial components are tested for leg length and range of motion before the final implants are fixed.
4.
Muscle and tendon repair
Soft tissue is repaired carefully to protect hip stability.
5.
Recovery and discharge
You begin walking with a physical therapist the day of surgery. Most qualifying patients go home the same day. A brief hospital stay is available for patients who need closer monitoring.
Typical procedure time is 60 to 90 minutes for primary hip replacement. Complex revision cases take longer.
Hip Replacement Recovery Timeline
Recovery from hip replacement is a structured process that runs from the day of surgery through approximately six months, with continued healing and remodeling up to a year.
Day of surgery
Walking with a physical therapist within hours. Same-day discharge for most qualifying patients.
Week 1 to 2
Walker or crutches at home. Physical therapy starts immediately with gentle range-of-motion and strengthening. Pain is managed with a combination of Tylenol, an anti-inflammatory like meloxicam or celecoxib, ice, and limited use of stronger pain medication when needed.
Week 2 to 4
Most patients transition off the walker to a cane as quadriceps and hip abductor strength return. Driving is typically permitted at 2 to 3 weeks once you are off narcotic medication. Sedentary desk work often resumes in the same window.
Month 1 to 3
Physical therapy continues, usually 4 to 6 weeks of outpatient sessions. Low-impact activities like stationary cycling, swimming, and walking on level ground are introduced. Return to work requiring prolonged standing or travel is typical at 4 to 6 weeks.
Month 3 to 6
Most patients describe the hip as essentially pain-free and functional for daily life. Golf, doubles tennis, hiking, and recreational strength training are reintroduced as tissue healing matures.
Six months to one year
Continued refinement. The implant and surrounding soft tissue continue adapting and strengthening for up to a year.
Throughout recovery, you will have dislocation precautions specific to your surgical approach (for example, no combined flexion-plus-internal-rotation of the hip for the first six weeks in posterior approaches). Dr. Petty and the physical therapy team give you a clear written plan so there is no guessing.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Petty for Hip Replacement in Nashville
Credentials and Training
Dr. Petty graduated from Harvard University (BA with honors) and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic residency at the Cleveland Clinic, consistently ranked among the top orthopedic programs in the country, followed by a highly selective sports medicine fellowship under Dr. James Andrews and Dr. William Clancy in Birmingham, Alabama. He was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society, received the Sports Medicine Person of the Year award in 2005, and has published research in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.
He holds two board certifications, in Orthopedic Surgery and in Sports Medicine, and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). His specialized BHR training came directly from Dr. Peter Brooks at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the pioneers of modern hip resurfacing.
Team Physician Experience
Dr. Petty served as Head Orthopedic Team Physician for the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2026. He continues as team physician for Tennessee State University and has provided sports medicine care for the Nashville Sounds, Nashville Metros Soccer, Cumberland University, Trevecca Nazarene University, and numerous area high schools. The diagnostic standards and surgical techniques used on NFL athletes are the same ones he uses on every Nashville patient.
A Commitment to Excellence
Across all joint replacement procedures, Dr. Petty’s philosophy is consistent: use high-quality implants, employ precise and reproducible surgical techniques, minimize complications, and maximize durability and patient satisfaction. His motto: “Always do what in your heart is best for your patient.”
Patient Reviews
Great expertise and knowledge on where the medicine should be applied and why.
— Healthgrades
“He is brilliant in diagnosing your issue and explains every option clearly. Calm, kind, and genuinely listens.”
— Janice G.
“Dr. Petty and his entire staff are extraordinary. I feel blessed to have him as my orthopedist and trust him completely.”
— David G.
“From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed and well cared for. Dr. Petty was thorough, patient, and took the time to listen to my concerns.”
— Roberto C.
Cost of Hip Replacement in Nashville
Hip replacement is medically necessary when arthritis or hip damage affects function and quality of life, which means the procedure is covered by most insurance plans.
Typical total procedure
$30,000 to $50,000
Including hospital or surgery center fees, surgeon fees, anesthesia, implants, and initial post-operative care.
Your out-of-pocket expense depends on your plan, your deductible, and your co-insurance.
Dr. Petty practices through Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance, which accepts most major insurance plans. His office provides a transparent cost estimate during your consultation so you understand what to expect before scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hip Replacement
Schedule a Hip Replacement Consultation in Nashville
If hip pain has reached the point where it is shaping your daily life, an evaluation is the right next step. Dr. Petty will review your imaging, examine the hip, and walk you through every option, from joint preservation and regenerative treatment to hip resurfacing and total hip replacement. Dr. Petty sees patients at his Nashville office through Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) at 8 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209. Phone: (615) 329-6600. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
We serve patients from Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Lebanon, and the greater Middle Tennessee area. Dr. Petty also sees patients who travel for world-class care, some from over 500 miles away, including recent patients from Kansas City, drawn by his specific expertise and reputation.