Minimally invasive surgery

A traditional surgical procedure frequently requires a large incision causing significant trauma to soft tissue surrounding an injury. Minimally invasive surgery in contrast minimizes the size of surgical incisions as well as trauma to surrounding soft tissues. This results in decreased risk during surgery, lesser post-operative pain and shorter recovery time. All branches of medicine have found alternatives using minimal invasive options, including orthopaedics.

Latest minimally invasive surgical procedures

This minimally invasive surgical procedure uses a camera mounted on a thin, flexible tube called arthroscope to visualize the interiors of the joint. It involves making two or more small incisions in the knee. Small surgical tools are inserted through these incisions, and the entire procedure is visualized on a screen. The surgeon makes use of this enlarged image on the screen to guide the instruments to perform the procedure

Indications

• • Repair of an injured meniscus
• • Rebuilding an torn anterior cruciate ligament
• • Inflamed synovial tissue
• • Damaged articular cartilage
• • Removal of loose fragments of bone or cartilage

In this surgical procedure, an arthroscope is inserted through the hip joint using small incisions, while surgical tools are inserted through larger incisions. This helps the surgeon view areas of the joint using the enhanced images provided by the arthroscope. Hip arthroscopy helps relieve painful symptoms impacting the labrum, articular cartilage, or other soft tissues surrounding the hip joint.

Indications

• • Hip injuries
• • Hip dysplasia
• • Femoroacetabular impingement
• • Loose bodies in joint
• • Synovitis
• • Hip joint infection

Also utilizes arthroscope and specialized tools to visualize areas of the joint and perform surgical repairs. It is used to relieve painful symptoms caused by damage of the rotator cuff tendons, labrum, articular cartilage, and other soft tissues surrounding the joint.

Indications

• • Rotator cuff repair
• • Bone spur removal
• • Instability of the shoulder
• • Repair of the Labral tears

Although not a common performed arthroscopic type of surgery, wrist arthroscopy can serve as a feasible alternative to conventional surgeries for wrist injuries and other painful wrist conditions.

Indications

• • Carpal tunnel release procedures
• • Repairing ligament tears
• • Chronic wrist pain

Traditionally spine surgeries were being performed as open surgical procedures. However, technological advances have recently allowed various back and neck conditions to be treated with this minimally invasive techniques.

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) uses similar underlying principles as arthroscopic surgery, however tools used vary slightly. Instead of an arthroscope and video monitor, MISS uses fluoroscopy, a type of real-time X-ray imaging to visualize the area being treated.

Indications

• • Herniated disc treatment
• • Spinal decompression
• • Spinal fusion

In a total joint replacement, the injured or worn out surfaces of the joint are replaced with artificial joint components. In traditional joint replacement surgery, a large incision is needed to expose areas of the entire joint. Minimally invasive joint replacement, on the other hand, utilizes smaller incisions with minimal disturbance of the surrounding soft tissue