How is Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement Surgery Different from Traditional Surgery?

For knee arthritis patients, whose pain and other symptoms do not get resolved with non-invasive treatments, minimally invasive knee replacement surgery may be the only treatment option.

A minimally invasive knee replacement surgery is different from traditional, open knee surgery primarily because it involves smaller incisions and less cutting of the tissue surrounding the knee.

Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement Vs. Traditional Surgery

The minimally invasive knee replacement surgery utilizes the highest quality artificial implants, special surgical tools and cutting-edge techniques. The surgery requires one or two small incisions, which heal easily, cause less tissue trauma and minimize scarring.

The orthopedic surgeon would make a relatively small incision, 4-6 inches (compared to an eight to ten-inch incision for traditional knee replacement) in a minimally invasive knee replacement surgery. The small incision ensures that there is only minor damage to the surrounding soft tissues. The technique used in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery is “quadriceps-sparing.” In other words, it does not damage the quadriceps muscles and tendons in the front of the thigh.

The minimally invasive surgery uses techniques known as “midvastus” and “subvastus” that place small incisions in the muscle. These techniques are much less invasive compared to those used in traditional knee replacement surgery. As the techniques used to expose the joint lead to less trauma to the muscle, the surgery cause very little post-operative pain and aid in faster recovery.

Minimally invasive surgery also requires a hospital stat that is shorter in comparison to traditional, open knee replacement surgery. Physical therapy and exercise are vital to recovery. Your physical therapist will explain to you the specific exercises that would help you increase your muscle strength and range of motion.

During traditional knee replacement surgery, the kneecap is turned over 180 degrees, so that the orthopedic surgeon has complete access to the point where the femur and tibia meet. During the minimally invasive knee surgery the surgeon only pushes the kneecap aside.

For traditional surgery, the orthopedic surgeon needs to dislocate the shin bone or tibia from the thigh bone or femur before fitting both bones with prosthetics. Minimally invasive surgery may not require the dislocation of the tibia from the femur. The arthritis ends of the bones are cut away and replaced with metal and plastic components. A metal base plate is placed on the top of the shin bone and a metal cap is placed on the base of the thigh bone. A plastic component placed between the two metal components replaces the articular cartilage.

If you are looking for the best orthopedic surgeons in Phoenix AZ, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee at 480-219-3342.

Phoenix Shoulder & Knee
1215 W Rio Salado Parkway
Suite 105, Tempe, AZ 85281

This release was published on openPR.