Minimally Invasive (MIS) Total Knee Replacement &
CAS – Computer Assisted Surgical Techniques

Techniques developed for minimally invasive unicondylar knee replacement have successfully been adapted to total knee replacement. Historically knee replacement has required incision lengths of 7 to 10 inches, and postoperative rehab for some patients has been difficult because of pain and stiffness.

One of the challenges after knee replacement is simply regaining a pain free range of motion. Until patients achieve 90 to 100 degrees of comfortable range of motion, it is difficult to get up from a seated position, go up and down stairs, and drive. The pain related to that loss of flexion can require narcotic pain control.

Newer techniques in knee replacement now involve down-sized instrumentation, incision lengths of 4 to 6 inches, and soft tissue techniques that emphasize early return of function. Patients now achieve 90 to 100 degrees of flexion in the first three to five days after surgery. They have less postoperative rehab pain and typically get off of their narcotics at two to three weeks instead of six to eight weeks. This also means that they are able to return to driving and their other activities of daily living earlier then with traditional total knee replacement techniques.

Of course, individual results will vary widely. Incision lengths can depend on the size of the knee, and range of motion is highly dependent on the range of motion prior to surgery. Likewise, the severity of the disease, previous surgeries, existing scars, and patient's own abilities to perform rehab requirements vary widely. As always, proper placement of implants is more important than the size of the incision and long term results matter more than the speed of rehab. However, we now have substantial experience in less invasive techniques and have demonstrated that minimally invasive knee replacement surgery can be done according to the strictest standards in most patients.

MIS Image Gallery
A Patient's View
Better Mobility and Less Manipulation with MIS
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement
Press Release – Research Lab
Return to Flexion after Traditional (Yellow) vs. MIS (Red)
Uni-compartmental Knee Implant Offers Help to Younger, Active Patients

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