Knee replacement surgery by minimally invasive method

What is knee replacement?

Knee replacement or knee arthroplasty is a method performed surgically where the areas of the knee joint bearing most of the body weight is damaged are replaced by artificial parts. Where total knee replacement is a bigger surgical procedure, MIS has emerged as a boon to patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or deformities etc. MIS is a reliable and potential alternative to knee surgery as it is done with smaller incisions and modern biomaterials.

Advantages of minimally invasive surgery

•          Provides more mobility within the joint as the prosthesis is new and customized.
•          The incision is only 4-6 inches long unlike 8-10 inches in traditional surgeries.
•          Advanced techniques like robotics, computer navigation etc are used along with improvised surgical instruments.
•          Quick recovery and short hospitalization.
•          The surrounding soft tissues in the knee joint are protected and undergo less surgical trauma.
•          Activities of daily living are certainly improved and a higher amount of success is achieved in long term gait pattern, climbing stairs etc.

When should you consider an alternative to knee replacement?

•          Deformed knees
•          Severe osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
•          Extreme painful bending, kneeling, and squatting during everyday routine.
•          Failure of non surgical methods like steroids, analgesics or physical therapy.

An overview of MIS procedure

It starts with making a smaller incision along the long axis of knee joint in the quadriceps muscle tendon. The knee cap underneath is simply pushed aside and with the assistance of computer, the prosthesis is fixed in the knee.

Hence it serves as an alternative to knee surgery as it makes use of specially designed instruments and much smaller incision, thereby giving more stability to the joint and promising early recovery.

Are there any complications of minimally invasive knee replacement?

•          Deep vein thrombosis

One of the common complications where a blood clot from legs may travel to thin blood vessels of heart or lungs producing respective complications or even death. This can be avoided by wearing a compression garment in both legs.

•          Infection

Surgery performed under unhygienic or unsterile conditions can lead to inhabitation of bacteria and may hence lead to infection.

•          Improper implant size and poor positioning

Too thin or too large spacers who do not match the size of the joint become difficult to get placed well during surgery. Apart from this, incision at wrong angles or improper way can also make the alignment difficult.

•         Flexion problems

The bending of the knee can get limited when there is formation of adhesions or scar tissue. Early mobilization and proper exercising is the key promote joint mobility.

•          Implant loosening

A sudden external trauma, active rheumatoid arthritis, weak bones or weak muscles are largely responsible for loosening of the prosthesis before the desired time.