Steven L Barnett, MD

Dr. Steven Barnett was the 5^th surgeon I consulted with for Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Heads (bilateral). The previous 4 advised me to have one of my hips replaced right away, but Dr. Barnett advised me to «wait and see» before jumping right into a hip replacement. I was literally stunned when he told me he has had patients with my exact stage of AVN resolve without treatment! I know one thing for sure… he isn’t just out for the almighty dollar, but has his patients best interest at heart! He was kind, informative and listened attentively to my concerns. Besides being an excellent surgeon (I’ve done a lot of research on hip surgeons), he truly cares! I HIGHLY recommend him (I did have to wait 3 weeks to get in to see him because he’s very much in demand).

Amazing Surgeon… Fabulous Result!
Having my hip replaced was no longer an option, but a necessity. At 59 I felt I was too young to keep living with the constant pain I had experienced for a long time… my diagnosis: Osteoarthritis.
Once I made the decision for surgery, finding the right doctor and hospital was top priority. I researched many websites (much like this one), watched videos and educated myself on the newest techniques, materials and outcomes… you should too. Given the fact this is major surgery, I believe it’s important you do your own research.
The Orthopaedic Specialty Institute Medical Group where Dr. Barnett’s office is located is a busy place! I was very impressed with his personal staff and how efficient the whole experience was from the moment I walked in to when I left.
Prior to meeting Dr. Barnett I had seen 2 other surgeons in my search. Once we met I felt the confidence and trust I was looking for. Not only was he a highly skilled and qualified surgeon, (he has completed 1000’s of successful hip surgeries) but his clear and easy communication style elevated my concerns right away. I knew then and there he was the one to perform my surgery.
After my consultation I was able to meet with his surgery coordinator and schedule my surgery and start the process. I have to honestly say I felt a huge relief knowing I was going to get the help I needed to becoming whole again. With many years of being a competitive athlete, add to that a few injuries, time had taken it’s toll. I literally couldn’t walk without pain and could only climb stairs one step at a time.
The surgery went very well and the Hoag Orthopedic Institute and it’s staff were amazing. HOI is rated one of the top Orthopedic Hospitals in the Nation by US News & World Report for the past 3 years. They are the highest volume provider of joint replacement in California, their outcomes stellar. In my research I was also looking for the newest technology in joint replacement surgery and HOI has it all.
Physical therapy was a must afterwards not only for getting strong again after surgery, but I needed to relearn to walk correctly after years of limping. Tomorrow is my 3 month check up with Dr. Barnett and I can’t wait to show him how well I’m doing… with zero pain!

Last year dr Barnett performed a left knee replacement for me which was followed by a right knee replacement this year. Both surgeries went very well. Dr Barnett is a great surgeon and I would recommend him instantly to anyone looking for his services. He is focused on his job and tells you the truth from the get go. As a patient you must consider your personal physical condition. There is always a problem if you don’t follow what the surgeon tells you. Needless to say I had a great outcome. Thanks to a talented doctor.

Dr. Barnett’s surgical intervention (7÷22÷11) in my traumatic injury on vacation was tremendous. (I took a large fall in a steam room at a resort spa and a hip replacement was the only solution.) Every single medical practitioner who heard who my surgeon was to be said how fortunate I was to have him at the helm. He checked in each day after surgery and took time to explain things thoroughly. His team is caring, focused and committed to medical excellence as well. I had my first physical therapy session today back home in Ohio and they were amazed at my mobility/​range of motion and how well I can walk. I and my husband highly recommend Dr. Barnett and the Orthopedic Institute and their caring staff.

Find another Doctor. We were referred to this physician through our insurance. My husband has been suffering for over a year with what was first diagnosed as a groin pull. CT scan revealed the femoral head had eroded 75%. Dr. Barnett spent about 10 minutes with us. Told my husband to lose weight, get a cardiac clearance and come back for surgery while he watched my husband walk out of his office in excruciating pain. No referral for pain management or aspiration of fluid build up on his hip which was recommended on the CT report and something that could have been done in his office. Thankfully, we have found a new doctor for the hip replacement and a pain management doctor who did the hip aspiration that resulted in great relief from his pain.

Dr. Steve Barnett did a great job with my wife’s hip replacement.
We had read about the direct anterior approach to total hip replacement online and reviewed the doctor’s own page at
before deciding to visit his office.
With this approach, an incision is made at the front of the hip and the muscles are parted instead of cut. This leads to a much quicker recovery and less pain. Another orthopedic surgeon had already recommended hip replacement but we wanted a second opinion by a surgeon practicing the anterior approach. Drs. Barnett and Gorab are two such surgeons affiliated with St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA.
The office is quite large and busy, supporting several doctors. Dr. Barnett was friendly at our first appointment, but got right down to business and made clear that my wife needed a right hip replacement to permanently relieve her pain and restore mobility. We decided to schedule surgery because she could no longer tolerate the pain after having tried chiropractic, stretching, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage and pain medication. Because Dr. Barnett is busy and in-​demand, and due to the holidays, the soonest surgery date was two months later.
As the date approached, we attended an informative hip replacement class at the hospital which answered many questions and lowered our anxiety level. We also visited Treanna Mather, the physician’s assistant, to ensure that everything was in order. She had digital X-​rays taken in the office, discussed what to expect, and showed us the titanium implant that would be used. The pre-​op instructions were clear but required us to visit — with great pain — several different facilities for chest X-​ray, EKG, blood tests, and medical clearance. I’m told that everything can be done at St. Joe’s, but we have to use facilities contracted with our HMO. My wife also donated 1 unit of her own blood for use if needed after surgery, and she ended up requiring it.
On the morning of surgery in January 2010, we checked into St. Joseph Hospital where my wife changed into a gown, the hip was cleaned for surgery, and the nurse started an IV. After my wife was taken to the OR, the anesthesiologist gave an epidural to numb the lower half of the body and then gave medicine to induce sleep. The surgery took about 2 hours, during which time I waited in a special surgery waiting room. The waiting room was new, comfortable and staffed by helpful personnel who kept me informed of the status. Dr. Barnett visited briefly to let me know that all had gone very well. My wife stayed in recovery for 2.5 hours and was then brought up to the orthopedic unit. She later reported that she slept soundly during the surgery and was unaware that it had even taken place.
I first saw my wife in her room in the new building at St. Joseph’s. The private room was clean and well-​appointed and I was able to stay overnight, sleeping comfortably on a padded guest bench in the room.
Several hours after surgery, a physical therapist (PT) came and took my wife for a walk down the hall, using a front-​wheel walker. The hip pain was already gone but there was temporary muscular pain from the surgery itself. Dr. Barnett and Treanna visited that evening and again the following morning to be sure that all was well.
The nursing staff, PT and occupational therapist at St. Joseph’s were first class. My wife received excellent care by the friendly and accommodating personnel. She was regularly monitored and visited throughout the first night and following day. Her pain was so much better that she did not even request medication but the nurse recommended she take it to be prepared for PT. After two more PT visits, she was ready to go home — the day after surgery! The typical stay is 1 – 2 nights.
My wife has been home for two days now and already feels improvement. She will receive home PT twice a week for three weeks to strengthen the muscles surrounding the hip. She is using a walker now but expects to need only a cane in one week. After 3 – 4 weeks she will be able to walk without assistance. We clean and dress the surgical site every day. The 6-​inch vertical incision in the front hip, above the thigh, is half the size of that with a traditional lateral or posterior approach. Expect a thick scar nonetheless.
We could not be happier with the results so far. Full recovery will take weeks, but to be walking the same day of surgery is a miracle. We felt very comfortable with Dr. Steve Barnett’s experience, as he performs 5 – 10 knee/​hip surgeries, twice a week. My wife and I found the whole experience to be quite positive, especially the outcome to date.