We have choosen what we feel is the safest and least invasive approach to joint replacement surgery. Less invasive surgery is a terminology that includes a small incision and muscle/bone sparing techniques. There is no defined way to measure incision length or soft tissue damage that occurs with surgery. A distinction between contemporary and less invasive approaches is therefore difficult to establish. Less invasive surgery may include unique pre-and post-operative pathways for anaesthesia, nursing care and rehabilitation. We believe that less invasive surgical techniques can be offered to almost all patients.
Acknowledging that there are contradictions in the literature published to date on less invasive arthroplasty techniques, we are convinced that there are advantages. Potential disadvantages of less invasive joint replacement surgery have been reported and relate to the difficulty of performing surgery within a restricted visual field. Such complications may include fracture, mal-position of the implant and neurovascular injury, although these complications are by no means limited to less invasive techniques.
Northern Hip & Groin Institute