Total Joint Replacement Educational Series: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction

"MINIMALLY INVASIVE" HIP AND
KNEE REPLACEMENTS:
WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?

What is it about the craze for "minimally" invasive total joint replacement surgery? Some of the other terms you may have heard are "mini incision" or "two incision" total hip replacement or quad sparing total knee replacement. The term "minimally" invasive (MIS) is misleading, as it would be more accurate to describe all of the current approaches as "less" invasive. Surgeons are using smaller incisions and less invasive techniques, but even with these improvements, the techniques are not "minimally invasive". For example, a true MIS procedure is arthroscopic surgery, and we are not there yet with total joint replacement surgery.

It also is important to remember that the surgery itself is just one component of a successful total joint replacement surgery experience. Renaissance Orthopedics and the Orthopedic Program at Magee Hospital feel that the patient and family centered care (PFCC) approach is what makes our program special. PFCC involves pre-op education and preparation for both the patient and family, special anesthesia and post-op pain management protocols, and rapid rehabilitation. The goal is to return you to your active pain-free lifestyle as quickly as possible.

The PFCC approach encourages you and your "coach" to become part of a dedicated team whose goal is to ensure you achieve the best possible results. By working together, we can have you walking the day of surgery, driving when you're on a cane, and back on the golf course! So we found that we need a complete, efficient, and organized approach in addition to these new techniques to speed your recovery and get you back to your active lifestyle as soon as possible!

SO WHAT IS FACT FROM FICTION?

POTENTIAL BENEFITS:

• The smaller incision and less muscle work may allow for faster rehab and recovery
• Usually less bleeding
• Shorter hospital stays
• Quicker recovery

• Smaller incisions also means that the bones are harder to visualize, which can result in placing the implants in a less than optimal position, and also increase the risk of fracture and nerve injury.
• Make sure you see a surgeon who is well trained in the less invasive techniques to ensure the best possible outcome.
• The potential adverse effects are the same as for the traditional hip or knee replacement. These include, but are not limited to:
  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Blood clots
  • Pneumonia
  • Nerve injury or blood vessel injury
  • Fractures and stiffness

• Renaissance Orthopedics and the Orthopedic Program at Magee Hospital have a special approach to total joint replacement surgery to make this experience as pleasant and anxiety free as possible. We call our approach: The Patient and Family Centered Care Approach (PFCC).
• Patients chose to have TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY in order to regain a higher quality of life, but remember EVEN THE LESS INVASIVE TECHNIQUES are only one part of a much larger process.
• The Patient and Family Centered Care Approach is designed to make the process as easy and pain free as possible for patients and their families.
• We promote a positive experience and a successful outcome with our "Complete" approach!!