Surgeons and the developers of knee implants have begun to market
an alternative to standard knee replacement surgery that has been
termed "Minimally Invasive Surgery" or "MIS"
Knee Replacement. This should really be termed "Less Invasive"
since a significant (although reduced) incision is still required,
the entire joint and bones are still exposed and "standard"
implants are still used. What makes it less invasive is the exposure
that the surgeon chooses to work with. Often this means less visibility
for the surgeon and a more difficult procedure.
The possible benefits to the patient are:
The potential for less scaring
Possibly more rapid recovery since the
surrounding muscles and tissue are left more
intact.
However, this procedure can be quite challenging for the surgeon
that is less experienced or new to this type of operation. The
surgeon must rely on landmarks which are less visible and must
use smaller instrumentation to position and align the implant
components. This is important to note because malalignment of
implants is one of the key short-term failure mechanisms in Total
Knee Replacement (although newer designs are more "forgiving"
than older versions).
For more information on Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement
, you can visit some of the company sponsored sites.
Some surgeons have begun to utilize Computer Assisted Surgery
to aid them in performing less invasive procedures or to produce
more accurate and repeatable results in a "standard"
procedure. Here, a computer is used along with motion tracking
devices to track the position of the knee joint and help align
the implants.
This technology is fairly new. It is safe to say that a very
small percentage of surgeons practice computer assisted knee surgery,
but numbers are increasing.
Whether use of the computer significantly improves the long term
performance of implants has yet to be determined
Medical Disclaimer:
The contents of this website and the links are for information only
and are not a substitute for medical advice. This information should
not replace necessary
medical consultations with a qualified physician or health care
provider.