Total Knee Replacement:
Depending on the condition of articular cartilage of the knee cap, some bone and cartilage from the ends of the thigh bone and shin bone may be removed. It is resurfaced by metal (cobalt chrome alloy) on the thigh bone side and a metal plate on which sits a plastic insert (ultra-high-density polyethylene) on the shin bone side. The knee cap is replaced with plastic. These implants are attached to the bone with special bone cement.Minimally Invasive Muscle Sparing Knee Replacements:
- Traditional – In this surgery, the knee is opened by an incision, with a cut through the quadriceps tendon. The incision is around 8-10 inches.
- Minimally Invasive Muscle Sparing Approach – With medical advances in Total Knee Replacements, there is more emphasis on causing minimal tissue trauma during surgery.
Minimally Invasive Surgeries (MIS) are changing today’s patient’s lives. Patients from diverse cultures enjoy active lifestyles and face unique physical, leisure, and workplace demands. MIS safely accommodates the greater Range of Motion (ROM) expected by today’s patients and may help to enhance their activities and quality of life. It is a quadriceps preserving surgery where the quadriceps muscle and mechanism are not violated/cut. The incision is around 4-6 inches. The muscles are lifted or pushed aside along with the patella rather than being cut.
The main advantages of this muscle-sparing approach are: –
- Lesser post-operative pain,
- Shorter hospital stays (Average 2-3 days),
- Less blood loss,
- Quick rehabilitation and very early return to function. (Almost three times faster),
- Higher patient confidence.