Minimally Invasive Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Chicago orthopaedic surgeons can diagnose and treat many types of bone and joint problems using minimally invasive techniques. Most minimally invasive orthopaedic surgeries are done with the use of an arthroscope, a special thin tool designed for viewing and treating problems inside a joint. The arthroscope is so slim that it can be inserted into the joint through one or more tiny "keyhole" cuts through the skin--rather than longer incisions. The arthroscope is fitted with a miniature camera and lighting system that enables the structures inside the joint to be viewed on a monitor. The surgeon can attach special tools to the end of the arthroscope to shave, cut, or remove tissue or bone that are causing problems.
The benefits of minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery include:
- Significantly less post-operative pain
- Less damage to tissue
- Reduced recovery time
- Faster return to normal activities
- Less scarring
- Very small "keyhole" incisions or greatly reduced incision size
- Some procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, requiring no overnight stay in the hospital
- Most arthroscopic procedures can be performed under local or regional anesthesia (blocks), requiring only sedation. This results in less side effects and post-operative pain compared to traditional general anesthesia.
Arthroscopy is not the only type of minimally invasive orthopaedic technique. Some problems can be treated with endoscopes--another type of surgical tool that can be inserted through very small incisions.
In addition to diagnostic procedures, minimally invasive orthopaedic treatment options offered at the University of Chicago Hospitals include:
Ankle
- Removal of excess scar tissue
- Removal of loose bodies and bone spurs
- Treatment of sports-related injuries such as damaged bone, cartilage, and ligament injuries
Elbow
- Capsulectomies for stiff joints (removal of a tissue "capsule" around a joint)
- Removal of loose bodies or cartilage
- "Tennis elbow" procedures
- Treatment of some other conditions and sports-related injuries, such as cartilage damage, ligament tears, bone spurs and defects (bone chips)
Hand/Wrist
- Treatment of fractures, tears
- Synovectomies (removal of inflamed synovial membrane)
Hip
- Some types of arthroscopic procedures, such as the evaluation of hip pain, instability, cartilage tears, and the removal of loose bodies
Knee
- Meniscus cartilage repair and partial removal
- Repair and reconstruction of ligaments
- Removal of loose bodies or cartilage
- Repair of articular cartilage defects and injuries
Shoulder
- Removal of loose bodies or cartilage
- Shoulder impingement treatment (for tendonitis/bursitis of rotator cuff joint)
- Treatment of ligament tears
- Treatment of recurrent dislocations
- Treatment of shoulder instability
- Treatment of tears to rotator cuff muscle
Specialization Means a Higher Level of Care
Our orthopaedic surgeons limit their practices to specific joints or types of orthopaedic problems. This ultimately leads to a higher level of expertise and better patient care. For instance, a surgeon who specializes in treating hand and wrist problems will have far more experience in diagnosing and treating problems in those areas than a more "general" orthopaedic surgeon. And, at the University of Chicago Hospitals, our orthopaedic specialists often collaborate on cases to ensure that each patient receives thorough care.
