Minimally Invasive Quad-Sparing Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement is an advanced procedure performed for severe damage to the knee joint. It is often referred to as total knee arthroplasty and involves resurfacing and replacing damaged parts of the knee. Minimally invasive total knee surgery (MIS) is a giant step forward in performing knee replacement through a smaller incision. MIS quad-sparing total knee replacement spares the quadriceps muscle and tendons, which control the bending of the knee. With traditional surgical techniques, the splitting or cutting of these tissues causes much of the pain during recovery.

As opposed to traditional surgery, which requires an 8- to 10-inch incision, MIS knee replacement involves performing the surgery through an incision that is only 3 to 5 inches long. Specialized instruments allow the surgeon to access the damaged knee joint and place the implant through the smaller incision. The actual resurfacing of the knee joint and the implantation of the prosthesis are similar to the traditional technique. The smaller incision and the muscle sparing mean less damage to the tissue around the knee and less blood loss in surgery; this can result in less swelling and pain after surgery.

Additional benefits include faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to work and normal activities.