Can a Rotator Cuff Injury Heal on Its Own?
A rotator cuff tear is painful and debilitating, but do you really need surgery? Here’s the rundown on rotator cuff injuries and when they need medical care.
5 Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery
More and more doctors are using minimally invasive surgical techniques instead of traditional open surgeries for a wider range of injuries and conditions.
Since the 1980s, when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was introduced, numerous improvements and advancements have made MIS the preferred method of surgery in most cases.
One of the reasons surgeons often favor MIS over open surgeries is its use of smaller incisions, which generally means fewer risks. Numerous other benefits have made MIS increasingly popular with surgeons and patients.
Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bryan King at Tuscaloosa Orthopedic and Joint Institute is skilled at the most advanced MIS techniques and procedures. Dr. King shares the top five benefits of MIS:
Smaller incisions
Minimally invasive surgical procedures use a small incision to insert instruments, lights, and an imaging device, such as a laparoscope, that enables the surgeons to operate. In traditional open surgery, a large incision “opens you up” to create a wider view of the surgical site.
Faster recovery
Because the incision is small, there is less trauma to the body. There is also less pain and bleeding. This reduced level of trauma to the body enables you to recover more quickly than if you had traditional open surgery.
Shorter hospital stay
It goes hand in hand: If your recovery is faster, then your hospital stay is shorter. With MIS, you can go home and resume normal activities more quickly, in most cases, than with open surgery.
Less scarring
With smaller incisions and less trauma to your skin and muscles, the scar left behind from your surgery is minimal. Additionally, sealing the incision requires only a few stitches.
Less pain
With less trauma to the body than with open surgical procedures, people who have minimally invasive surgery generally have less pain and discomfort. That’s not to say the procedure will be painless, but with fewer muscles and tissues disrupted, the healing process is quicker, and the pain factor lower.
Not all surgeries can be done as minimally invasive procedures. In some cases, traditional open surgery is a better option.
If you’re considering surgery and would like to know if you’re a candidate for minimally invasive surgery, call the Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute office in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at 205-391-4440 to schedule a consultation. You can also send a message to Dr. King and the team here on our website.
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