Minimally Invasive Surgery Grows In Popularity
Whether the reason is arthritis or injury, more and more Americans are opting for joint replacement surgery. Research estimates surgeons perform about one million joint replacement procedures per year. These include knee, hip, and even elbow replacement surgeries. This is a significant spike compared to 50 years ago when surgery first started. Why? Minimally invasive surgery has made what was once a complicated, risky procedure safer and more accessible.
Why choose surgery?
Any patient deciding on surgery has reached a point of no return. The patient may have suffered from conditions like arthritis for months or even years, with no relief. Non-surgical options were unsuccessful. These conditions wear away the bone and cartilage, creating pain as the bones clank together after the simplest movements. The goal of surgery is to replace worn or damaged bone and cartilage with prosthetic parts. Joint replacements make the joint more durable and relieve pain.
Open vs minimally invasive surgery
So what’s all the hype about minimally invasive surgery? Before, doctors performed joint replacement via open surgery. The surgeon would cut several inches along the knee to reveal the joint. Minimally invasive surgery or MIS combines advancements in technology and surgery to the patient’s benefit. Using incisions the size of button-holes, the surgeon can insert an arthroscope and smaller tools to perform the surgery. The arthroscope gives the surgeon a high-powered view of the joint using a camera. Using the feed, the surgeon can then replace the joint. Still unsure if MIS works? Here are 3 reasons to consider this over open surgery.
1. Back on your feet in no time
One of the most significant advantages of MIS is the quick recovery time. With open surgery, the patient does not only have to worry about the prosthetics. There is also an incision several inches long. Both need the right care for proper healing, so MIS cuts this time down significantly. Collectively, the incisions are about 2 inches in length. MIS also does not disrupt the surrounding muscles, tissue, and bone. Research shows that patients can experience up to 90% shorter recovery time compared to open surgery.
2. The odds are in your favor
With smaller incisions and complications, minimally invasive procedures have tremendous outcomes. Total joint replacement has a 95% success rate. Furthermore, surgery is known to show great results many years later. Open surgery is also successful, but generally records an 85% success rate minimum. These surgeries are more prone to infections, muscle and tissue damage. Patients should then consider MIS since the outcomes could be twice as safe.
3. No need for a conventional hospital
Total joint replacement has even evolved into an outpatient procedure. If a patient is in generally good health and the surgery goes well, the patient can go home the same day. That means the patient can have MIS at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) or surgicenter. Surgicenters are stand-alone clinics that focus on minimally invasive and other outpatient procedures. Under the guidance of the patient’s doctor, a patient can simply schedule and get surgery at an ASC. Surgicenters help patients avoid the unpredictability of a conventional hospital. The patient gets a joint replacement and leaves the same day while benefitting from reduced costs and better service.
The choice is clear
If total joint replacement of any kind is in the cards, opt for a minimally invasive procedure. These procedures are now the gold standard. MIS reduces scarring, infection, and recovery time. Open surgery, while successful, also has a higher risk of infection, scarring, and costs more long-term. Best of all, patients can opt for MIS on a specific schedule, using a service like a surgicenter. Persons with chronic joint pain should speak with a doctor about minimally invasive joint surgery today.
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