The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery

The decision to undergo knee surgery is never a simple one to make. It is usually prompted by pain and severely restricted knee movement. Some people may even choose to live with reduced mobility rather than go under the knife for fear of being bedridden or in pain for a long time after surgery. The good news is with minimally invasive knee surgery many of such concerns can be addressed.

The following are some the key benefits of minimally invasive knee surgery:

• Smaller incisions: Compared to the traditional surgery which requires 10 to 12-inch incisions, minimally invasive surgery incisions are only about 2-3 inches long. The specialized miniature instruments and tools allow repair of injured tissue through the narrow incision with minimal damage to surrounding structures.
• Minimal or no cutting of important muscles and tissues: The minimally invasive surgical approach allows your surgeon the dexterity to reach the knee joint or injury site without having to cut some of the important supporting structures like ligaments, tendons, and muscle.
• Reduced pain: As the knee joint and surrounding structures undergo less trauma during surgery, patients experience less pain during the postsurgical period.
• Reduced infection risk: The reduced size of the surgical incision results in minimal bleeding and reduced risk of infection in the outpatient setting.
• Faster recovery: In certain cases, you be able to stand up and bear weight on your knee on the same day as the minimally invasive knee replacement surgery. You may also be discharged the very next day to recover in the comfort of your home.

If you have been suffering from chronic knee pain that has not improved with conservative therapy and it is negatively impacting your quality of life, consult your doctor to find out if you might be a candidate for minimally invasive knee surgery.

At Carrell Clinic, we offer a broad range of comprehensive orthopedic care. Each physician is skilled in one or more special interest areas, such as pediatric orthopedics, sports injuries, arthroscopy, as well as disorders of individual regions such as the spine, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, foot and ankle. All of our physicians are fully trained in general orthopedics and are board certified. Click here to schedule an appointment.