Benefits of Minmimal Invasive Knee Replacements

In Minimal Invasive technique the incision made is smaller than traditional knee replacement, also in the invasive procedure, the important quadriceps muscle and tendon are not disrupted as in traditional knee replacement. LifeART image ©2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.


Dr Neelam V. Ramana Reddy,Consultant Wockhardt Hospitals,Hyderabad shares his thoughts about Minimal Invasive Hip Replacement.

Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) is a surgery that is performed for severe degeneration of the knee joint. Knees wear out for a variety of reasons, which include inflammation from arthritis, injury or simple wear and tear arthritis.

Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty (MIS) is one method of performing a knee replacement. It uses a smaller incision. Unlike conventional total knee replacement, which requires a large incision (8 to 12 inches) and significant disruption of the muscles and tendons. MIS Knee Joint Replacement is performed through an incision as small as 3 to 4 inches. In MIS procedures the amount of soft tissue (muscles and tendons, etc.) that are disrupted during surgery is reduced. Through that same small incision, the diseased surfaces of the knee joint are exposed and then replaced, one at a time, with the artificial joint components. This new technique is also called quadriceps-sparing knee replacement.

MIS Knee Joint Replacement is considered a giant step forward in total knee replacement for a number of reasons, which may include the following: a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, less pain and much less scarring.

Potential benefits of this new techniques

1. More rapid return of knee function. Patients who undergo this procedure get muscle strength and control back more quickly than patients who have had traditional total knee replacement. This is because the quadriceps muscle and tendon are not divided in the course of the surgical exposure like in traditional knee replacement, and the kneecap is not everted (flipped out of the way) as it is in traditional total knee replacement. The recovery time is much quicker, often permitting patients to walk with a cane within a couple of weeks of surgery or even earlier.

2. Smaller incision. While this procedure would not be worth performing for cosmetic benefits, many patients do prefer the shorter incision. Traditional knee replacement incisions often measure 8” or longer; minimally invasive quadriceps-sparing knee replacement incisions are about 4” in length for most patients.

3. Decreased post-operative pain. This may be a function of the smaller incision and the fact that the incision stays out of the important quadriceps muscle/tendon group. The less-traumatic nature of the surgical approach also decrease post-operative pain and diminish the need for rehab and therapy compared to more traditional approaches.

4.Faster Recovery and Lesser Hospital Stay: Since minimally invasive procedure involves minimal incisions, there is less wounds to heal , which means faster recovery and early return to work.

Minimal invasive quadriceps-sparing total knee replacement is an evolution of surgical technique, which permits the use of time-tested implant designs. This gives some reassurance that while the surgical approach is new, the implants themselves have a good proven track record.

The Surgery would be a preferred choice for most patients, as there is no cost difference between the Conventional Surgery and the Minimally Invasive one. However as with all minimally invasive procedures the patient selection criteria is important, basically chronically deformed joints can not be dealt with, with this kind of surgery.

Article Courtesy :

Dr Neelam V. Ramana Reddy, MS Ortho; MCh Ortho (UK)
Consultant Joint Replacement Surgeon
Wockhardt Bone & Joint Hospital
Kamineni Wockhardt Hospitals,King Koti, Hyderabad.

For enquiries and scheduling an online appointment with Doctor Neelam Reddy,please write in to enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net