The Future of Joint Repair

A long-term study of more than 6000 patients showed that a minimally invasive anterior approach to hip arthroplasty may be the wave of the future for joint replacement and reconstruction surgery.The findings, presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons? annual meeting, showed that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) yielded smaller incisions, less blood loss, fewer complications, and earlier rehabilitation than did traditional hip arthroplasty.

Although MIS is being used in a variety of joint repairs such as rotator cuff repair, shoulder dislocation repair, and shoulder fracture repair, orthopaedists caution that problems associated with tissue healing and recovery remain. Further research on outcomes is needed to determine long-term effects.