Minimally invasive total knee replacement: techniques and results.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common procedure for end-stage knee arthritis.
• Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches aim to reduce surgical trauma and improve patient recovery.
• Various MIS techniques for TKR have been developed, each with distinct characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the definition and approaches of MIS in TKR.
• To assess current evidence on the safety and efficacy of MIS TKR.
• To identify limitations and patient selection criteria for MIS TKR.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of MIS TKR definitions, approaches, and recent studies.
• Analysis of potential limitations and risks associated with MIS TKR.
• Examination of existing evidence regarding patient selection and surgical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Mini-medial parapatellar approach is easier to learn and perform compared to mini-subvastus and mini-midvastus.
• Mini-subvastus and mini-midvastus approaches carry higher risks of hematoma and nerve damage.
• Current evidence is inadequate to fully support widespread MIS TKR without further research and consent protocols.

Conclusions:

• MIS TKR is feasible for carefully selected patients, but approach differences exist.
• Surgeons should exercise caution and consider advanced tools when transitioning to MIS TKR.
• More long-term data is needed to establish the definitive benefits and safety of MIS TKR.