Knee replacement is a surgery that is commonly performed with the intention to replace a knee joint damaged due to degenerative diseases. More than half a million people undergo this surgery yearly and this number is set to increase. As its name suggests, minimally invasive surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the usage of small incisions between 3 to 5 inches to carry out the surgery. Unlike its open surgery counterpart, the knee does not need to be cut open and stitched back post operation. This leads to a faster recovery time, shorter hospitalization and also better looking aesthetically. In this article, we will look at some of the advantages of minimally invasive surgery for knee replacement.
Medically, there are no significant differences between a traditional surgery and a minimally invasive surgery. Smaller incisions between 3 to 5 inches are made instead of 8 to 10 inches incisions with traditional methods. In traditional surgery, the quadriceps muscles as well as the tendons at the front of the knee and thigh are cut. In minimally invasive surgery, these two are spared and left untouched. Instead, 3 small incisions are made near the patella in order to insert a camera and robotic arms.
The main aim of minimally invasive surgery is to minimise trauma to the tissue by conventional surgery, leading to less pain, less unwanted injuries, less infections, shorter recovery time and lower cost for the patients. Patients typically require only half the time now to get rid of a walker and use a walking cane to move around. Most importantly, minimally invasive surgery has a higher success rate due to the usage of small robotic arms to aid the surgery.
The surgeon is able to view high definition magnified images of the knee throughout the surgery. This will enhance the accuracy as well as ensure a higher success rate.There are many advantages of minimally invasive knee replacement surgery compared to its traditional counterpart. However, minimally invasive surgery is not for everyone. Patients who suffer from knee deformity are better suited to the traditional type and repeat patients who had knee replacement surgery before will also require traditional surgery. Also, some artificial knee components may not be able to fit through the small incisions. Other than that, higher success rates, lesser pain and lesser trauma are the few strong unique selling points of minimally invasive knee replacement surgery.
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