Minimally Invasive Joint Replacement In Irving TX

Minimally invasive joint replacement is a surgery that makes it possible to completely replace an affected joint like the hip or knee joint using one or two small incisions. Using small incisions for replacing the joints helps to decrease the trauma caused to the muscles and tendons, hence aiding speedy recovery, as well as minimal blood loss. This means a shorter hospital stay for the patients, and quicker rehabilitation.  If you are considering getting this surgery, you shall need to schedule an appointment with your orthopedic surgeon to ensure that you are eligible for the surgery. 

The surgery is widely performed in orthopedic clinics across Irving TX. MIS is best suited for patients with a healthy weight, who are young and in good health. It is also important for the patient to be motivated to work towards their recovery once the surgery is performed. Patients who have already undergone joint surgery previously, and those who are obese, excessively muscular, or aged are usually not eligible for minimally invasive joint replacement. 

Your orthopedic surgeon in Irving will carefully evaluate your individual history and tell you whether or not you are eligible for the surgery. It is also important to have a clear understanding of the risks and benefits of the surgery before getting it performed. Patients must not confuse MIS with arthroscopic procedures, which involve treating damaged cartilage, and require very small incisions. In MIS, the surgeons must make an incision of 3-4 inches for hip replacement, and 4-5 inches for knee replacement, large enough to insert the implant. This is smaller than the incision required for traditional surgery, which is around 12 inches. 

The basic procedure involved is similar to traditional knee replacement surgery, involving cutting of the bone, realigning the supporting soft tissue mechanism, and placing the implant. The procedure is almost painless, owing to the use of epidural hypotensive anesthesia and light sedation. This also helps to avoid the risks involved with general anesthesia, which is administered in case of traditional surgery. The outcomes are as good as those with the traditional approach.

As many advantages as this procedure offers, it is important to ensure that you get it performed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon, who performs the surgery regularly, and practices appropriate patient selection. You might also want to discuss the alternative method of minimally invasive joint replacement with your surgeon, which involves two incisions instead of one, and the use of x-ray guidance to place two pieces of the prosthesis.