Minimally invasive approaches to total knee arthroplasty: results

In this article, I compare outcome data for a variety of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) approaches-mini-parapatellar quadriceps incision, mini-midvastus, mini-subvastus, and quadriceps-sparing-and general data comparing all MIS TKA approaches with the standard TKA approach. So far, most studies lack the statistical power that would provide a strong rationale for favoring any specific MIS TKA approach over another. On the basis of the data presented here, however, MIS TKA is clearly favored over the standard approach. Future comparative studies will require improved measurement tools to draw meaningful comparisons between short- and long-term functional outcomes for the variety of TKA approaches.