Less Invasive Joint Replacement
Mini-incision Joint Replacement Surgery: Is New Always Better?
Painful, aching joints can signal the onset of arthritis. It often starts with periods of stiffness in the joint, but over time it may progress to constant pain, even with minimal movement. Traditional knee and hip joint replacements have brought welcome relief for hundreds of thousands of people with arthritis.
Recent media stories have focused on the benefits of minimally invasive, or less-invasive, hip joint replacement as an alternative to traditional surgery. This procedure involves making a smaller (4 to 5 inches) incision in the hip. The length of incision varies with the thickness of a patient's tissue; very large people require longer incisions because of the depth of the wound.
Although there have been no documented studies of the results, some surgeons report that their patients have experienced less pain and faster post-surgery recovery times with this procedure. However, the implants used are the same size as those used in traditional surgery, regardless of the size of the incision. So, often the diameter of the new socket will not fit through a 4-inch incision without stretching the skin. This limited exposure can affect proper and secure placement of the implant, which is key to a successful surgery and positive long-term results. Continued experience with less-invasive hip replacement procedures is necessary to determine the long-term benefits.
Minimally invasive partial knee replacement has been more widely used, with documented success in speeding a patient's recovery and return to activity. This procedure is done through a 3-inch incision and requires a 1- to 2-day hospital stay. Typically, the patient is up and walking with minimal assistance after 2 weeks.
At The Joint Center at Valley Medical Center, we continuously evaluate new, promising techniques, but we are also committed to making sure our patients have excellent results over the long term. We evaluate each patient on a case-by-case basis, and we will consider all available options, including less-invasive replacements, computer-assisted techniques, and traditional joint replacement surgery.
The Joint Center at Valley Medical Center is the only dedicated joint replacement center in the Pacific Northwest. It is a place where all patient needs are addressed within a single wing of the hospital. As a leader in joint replacement surgery, we offer the latest in technology, supported by an expert, caring staff, including nationally recognized orthopedic surgeons.
If you are confused by the myriad of options and overabundance of information in the media regarding joint replacement techniques, attend one of our free weekly joint replacement seminars to make sure you choose the option best for you. Call us toll free at 888.265.6468 for seminar dates and times.
Technology and Medicine Meet: Computer-Assisted Surgery
Traditional total joint replacement surgery is one of the most reliable and cost-effective surgical procedures in modern medicine. It has improved dramatically over the years, with smaller incisions, reduced recovery time, and better outcomes.
Interest in less-invasive and computer-assisted forms of joint replacement surgery is growing. Computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS) was introduced in Europe in the late 1990s. This rapidly evolving field has seen recent advancements in software and instruments. William Barrett, MD, medical director of The Joint Center at Valley Medical Center, is one of six orthopedic surgeons working with Depuy, the largest orthopedic manufacturing company in the world, to develop a system to use in performing total hip and knee replacement surgery. One of only a handful of orthopedic surgeons in the nation performing computer-assisted joint replacement, Dr. Barrett has worked to help define and refine this system.
The procedure uses a computer to track the position of instruments and the patient's joint, displaying them on a screen as a virtual image of the patient. This allows the surgeon to see any action, analyze its implications, and make any changes necessary before performing the surgical step on the patient. The goal of computer-assisted surgery is to increase the accuracy and reproducibility of the procedures.
Long-term results for joint replacement show the probability of survival of hip and knee replacements at 15 years to be 90 percent. The introduction of new bearing surfaces, such as metal on metal and ceramics, better fixation of implants, and the use of computer-assisted surgery may well improve upon these already excellent results.
For more information about computer-assisted joint replacement surgery, call The Joint Center at 888.265.6468.
