What is minimally invasive surgery?
The size of the incision defines minimally invasive surgery. Though you may have one to several incisions, all the incisions are small.
A typical incision with minimally invasive surgery is about one-fourth of an inch, allowing your provider to use advanced instruments designed to fit through the narrow incision.
By comparison, open surgery may only use one incision, but it’s long. It needs to be substantial so surgeons can separate or pull it apart. This larger incision creates an opening that accommodates their hands and traditional instruments.
When might I need minimally invasive surgery?
Your provider at ROC Orthopedic may recommend minimally invasive surgery to diagnose and treat a wide range of orthopedic problems. These are a few examples of the conditions treated with a minimally invasive procedure:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Meniscus tears
- Labral tears
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dislocated knee or shoulder
- ACL tear
- Hip dysplasia
- Hip impingement
- Synovitis
Your provider can treat almost every type of orthopedic injury, especially joint problems, using minimally invasive techniques.
What happens during minimally invasive surgery?
The primary instrument used during minimally invasive surgery, called an arthroscope, is a long, pencil-width device containing a light and high-def camera. This instrument transmits magnified images from inside your body to a monitor.
During minimally invasive surgery, your ROC Orthopedics provider inserts the arthroscope through one incision, evaluates the tissues, and verifies the diagnosis. They use other specialized instruments that are narrow enough to fit through one or more tiny incisions to perform surgery.
Your provider views the monitor and controls the instruments from outside your body to repair tissues and perform surgical procedures.
Your provider may:
- Remove or repair damaged cartilage
- Reconstruct ligaments
- Remove excess bone
- Reshape bones
- Repair torn tendons
- Remove inflamed and infected tissues
- Remove loose bodies from a joint
ROC Orthopedics also does major surgeries such as knee replacement, hip replacement, and shoulder replacement using minimally invasive techniques.
What are the benefits of minimally invasive surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery causes significantly less trauma compared to open surgery. In many cases, your ROC Orthopedics provider can avoid cutting muscles.
As a result, you can look forward to:
- Less pain after surgery
- Reduced need for pain meds
- Less bleeding during surgery
- Lower risk of infections or complications
- Faster recovery
- Minimal scarring
If you have questions about minimally invasive surgery, call ROC Orthopedics or schedule an appointment online today.
