What is minimally invasive surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery is a less invasive approach to hip replacement and knee replacement. This type of procedure emphasizes precision, comfort, and rapid recovery.
Because minimally invasive surgery offers the same (or often better) results as traditional surgery, it’s now the top choice for joint replacements.
How does minimally invasive surgery work?
Dr. Weber uses slender tubes equipped with miniature cameras and small surgical instruments to perform your procedure. He views the inside of your joint on a high-definition monitor, which provides a detailed view that far exceeds what the human eyes can normally see.
With one type of minimally invasive surgery, robotic joint replacement, Dr. Weber manipulates robotic arms to perform your procedure. Robotic-assisted surgery offers maximum precision, as the robotic arm can lock in place (no risk of tremors) and can make movements beyond normal human wrist movements.
In minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Weber makes much smaller incisions. The typical incision in a traditional open hip replacement is 10-12 inches long, but with a minimally invasive approach, Dr. Weber makes a single 3- to 6-inch or two 1- to 2-inch incisions.
For traditional open knee replacement, incisions are usually 8-10 inches, but with the minimally invasive approach, they’re only 4-6 inches. The smaller incision means dramatically less disruption in your surrounding tissues, and this method has a number of significant advantages.
What are the advantages of minimally invasive surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery is the best approach for many surgeries because it offers several advantages, including:
- Less pain after surgery
- Less bleeding during surgery
- Quicker recovery
- Fewer problems with incision healing
- Reduced risk of infection
You'll also spend less time in the hospital with minimally invasive surgery. In fact, Dr. Weber usually performs hip and knee replacements as an outpatient procedure, so you'll have a same-day discharge as well as a lower procedure cost.
What can I expect with minimally invasive surgery recovery?
Dr. Weber understands that your goal is to get back to normal as soon as possible. He helps you do this in a variety of ways, starting with multimodal pain control. By combining specific medications, he maximizes their analgesic effect and ensures the least painful recovery possible for you.
You'll also participate in physical therapy to improve your flexibility and strength quickly. By working with Dr. Weber closely, you can get out of pain, reclaim your quality of life, and return to the activities you love sooner than you might think.
To learn more about minimally invasive hip and knee replacement, call Ian C. Weber, MD, or use the online request form now.
