Hip Replacement in Desert Ridge, AZ

Back on the Wildfire fairways. Back on the Sonoran Desert trails. Back to Desert Ridge life — without hip pain holding you back. Dr. Gough’s minimally invasive approach means same-day discharge and no long list of restrictions afterward.

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Desert Ridge Was Built for People Who Stay Active

Desert Ridge residents expect to stay active — and the neighborhood is designed for it. Wildfire Golf Club’s Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo Signature courses draw golfers year-round. The Phoenix Sonoran Desert Preserve puts miles of trail access at the neighborhood’s northern edge. Community paths and the JW Marriott loop provide daily walking routes through well-maintained desert landscape. And High Street brings walkable dining and socializing close to home. Hip pain disrupts all of it. The round at Wildfire gets shortened. The Sonoran Desert trail becomes too much. The morning walk on the community path turns into a painful reminder of what’s been lost. It’s not just the activity — it’s the identity that comes with living in a neighborhood built for people who move. Dr. Brandon Gough is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon in Scottsdale who specializes in hip replacement for active adults. His patients walk the same day as surgery, go home within 24 hours, and return to Desert Ridge life on a timeline that regularly surprises them.

Signs It May Be Time to Consider Hip Replacement

Hip pain that wakes you up at night or makes it impossible to find a comfortable sleeping position
Groin or hip stiffness that limits your swing at Wildfire Golf Club or makes walking 18 holes difficult
Pain on the Sonoran Desert Preserve trails that forces you to cut hikes short or avoid them entirely
Stiffness getting in and out of the car or pain walking through Desert Ridge Marketplace and High Street
Non-surgical treatments — injections, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories — that are no longer providing meaningful relief

How Dr. Gough's Approach Compares to Traditional Hip Replacement

	Traditional	Dr. Gough
Incision	10–12 inches	4–6 inches
Muscle handling	Cut or detached	Fully preserved
Walking	Days after surgery	Same day
Recovery	6–12 weeks	Weeks, not months
Restrictions	Long post-op list	None
Hospital stay	2–4 days	Same day / 24 hrs

The Direct Superior Approach — Why Desert Ridge Patients Choose It

Dr. Gough uses the Direct Superior approach to total hip replacement — a technique that does not cut or detach the major muscles around the hip. The joint is accessed through a 4-inch incision without twisting or overextending the leg. Because the muscles are preserved, recovery begins immediately: most patients stand and walk within hours of surgery, go home the same day, and face no post-surgery hip restrictions. For Desert Ridge patients, this matters in practical terms. No long list of movements to avoid. No weeks of restricted recovery. A return to Wildfire Golf Club, the Sonoran Desert trails, and daily Desert Ridge life — measured in weeks, not months. For patients who have already had a hip replacement that is causing pain or instability, Dr. Gough also performs complex revision total hip replacement. Revision cases are more complex than primary replacements, which is exactly why experience and specialized training matter more — not less.

What Recovery Looks Like for Desert Ridge Patients

Most of Dr. Gough’s total hip replacement patients walk with assistance the same day as surgery and go home within 24 hours. In the first week, walking begins with a cane or walker and physical therapy starts. By weeks two and three, most patients are off assistive devices and returning to driving. By weeks three to four, many are walking the flat community paths and the JW Marriott loop. By months two and three, most patients have returned to full activity — including Wildfire Golf Club, the Sonoran Desert Preserve trails, and Desert Ridge life at full pace. Revision hip replacement recovery follows a longer timeline — typically one to two days in the facility, followed by a structured rehabilitation program over three months and continued improvement through the first year.

I was back on the Arnold Palmer Course about eight weeks after surgery. I had been dreading the recovery but it was nothing like I expected. Dr. Gough’s team prepared me well and delivered exactly what they promised.

BOARD CERTIFIED ORTHPAEDIC SURGEON

Meet Dr. Brandon Gough, M.D.

Dr. Brandon Gough is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and a leader in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement.

Dr. Brandon Gough is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He specializes in hip and knee reconstruction and has performed over 8,000 procedures since 2013.

He is one of a select group of surgeons in the country trained in the Direct Superior approach to hip replacement — a technique that eliminates post-surgery restrictions and dramatically reduces recovery time. He is also a past consultant and educator for Stryker Orthopaedics, training surgeons from around the world in minimally invasive joint replacement techniques.

Beyond the operating room, Dr. Gough volunteers with Magis Clinic, Madonna School, Habitat for Humanity, and Sienna St. Francis Clinic. He believes that exceptional surgical care and genuine compassion go hand in hand.

Hip Replacement Questions from Desert Ridge Patients

How far is Dr. Gough's practice from Desert Ridge?

Dr. Gough’s private practice is at 8575 E. Princess Dr., Suite 210, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 — approximately 20 minutes from Desert Ridge via the 101. He also operates at Aloe Surgical Center and Abrazo Scottsdale Campus, both in the Scottsdale area.

Will I be able to play golf at Wildfire again after hip replacement?

Most patients return to golf within two to three months of total hip replacement using Dr. Gough’s Direct Superior technique. Because the surrounding muscles are preserved — not cut and rebuilt — the strength and stability needed for your swing are intact from day one. Dr. Gough will give you a specific activity plan at your consultation based on your goals and recovery progress.

Is same-day discharge safe for hip replacement?

Yes — for appropriate candidates, same-day discharge is as safe as an overnight hospital stay and produces equivalent outcomes. Dr. Gough’s technique causes significantly less soft tissue trauma than traditional approaches, which means patients are stable, mobile, and ready to go home within hours of surgery. Every patient is monitored closely before discharge is confirmed.

Does insurance cover hip replacement surgery?

Most major insurance plans — including PPO plans common among Desert Ridge professionals and families — cover hip replacement when it is medically necessary. Dr. Gough’s team will verify your insurance benefits before your consultation so there are no surprises. Gough Surgical accepts most major PPO plans including United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Ambetter, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Ready to Get Back to Desert Ridge Life?

Call 602-359-3088 or complete the form to schedule your consultation with Dr. Gough. His team will review your imaging, assess your hip, and give you a direct, honest recommendation on whether hip replacement is right for you — and what your recovery would realistically look like.