So, you’ve been told surgery is needed after trying unsuccessful conservative treatments for your orthopedic condition. Or perhaps you are curious about whether you are a candidate for minimally invasive orthopedic surgery. Now what? Now the staff at East Tennessee Orthopedics and Sports is here to help you find relief – quickly and successfully.
Excellence in Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Gregory Hoover has advanced training and many years of experience performing minimally invasive procedures for treatment of all types of complex orthopedic problems.
What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery is exactly what it sounds like. Whereas traditional surgery often requires a large incision and significant trauma to soft tissue surrounding an injury, minimally invasive surgery attempts to minimize both the size of surgical incisions and the trauma caused during surgery while accomplishing the same outcome. This results in less risk during surgery, less post-operative pain and shorter recovery times.
What Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgeries are Available?
Just as there are many different types of orthopedic injuries, there also are a wide variety of minimally invasive surgery options available. Below you will find a description about each of the surgeries:
Knee Arthroscopy
This minimally invasive surgery involves making two or more small incisions in the knee. Dr. Hoover uses a camera mounted on a thin, flexible tube—a tool called an arthroscope—to visualize the interior of the joint. Small surgical tools are inserted through the other incisions, and the entire operation is broadcast to a television screen that allows him to guide the instruments and make whatever repairs are necessary.
Knee arthroscopy is commonly used for:
- ACL tear reconstruction
- Meniscal tear repair or trimming
- Loose body removal
- Removal of inflamed synovium
Hip Arthroscopy
During this minimally invasive procedure, an arthroscope is inserted into the hip joint through a small incision, while surgical tools are inserted through other incisions. As with other types of arthroscopy, Dr. Hoover views the joint and manipulates the instruments using the enlarged images provided by the arthroscope. Hip arthroscopy can help relieve painful symptoms of many problems impacting the labrum, articular cartilage, or other soft tissues surrounding the hip joint.
Hip arthroscopy is commonly used for:
- Hip injuries
- Hip dysplasia
- Femoroacetabular impingement
- Loose bodies in joint
- Synovitis
- Hip joint infection
Shoulder Arthroscopy
A common minimally invasive surgery, shoulder arthroscopy also uses an arthroscope and specialized tools to visualize the joint and perform repairs. It is used to relieve painful symptoms caused by damage to the rotator cuff tendons, labrum, articular cartilage, and other soft tissues surrounding the joint.
Shoulder arthroscopy is commonly used for:
- Rotator cuff repair
- Bone spur removal
- Shoulder instability repair
- Labral repair or removal
- Removal of inflamed tissue
Wrist Arthroscopy
Although not as common as some other types of arthroscopic surgery, wrist arthroscopy may be a viable alternative to conventional surgery for wrist injuries and other painful wrist conditions.
Wrist arthroscopy is commonly used for:
- Carpal tunnel release procedures
- Fracture repair
- Ligament/TFCC tear repair
- Diagnosing or treating chronic wrist pain
Minimally Invasive Total Joint Replacement
Many different types of joint replacement—including hip, knee, and shoulder—can now be performed through minimally invasive surgery. In a total joint replacement, the damaged or worn surfaces of the joint are removed and replaced with artificial joint components that are cemented or screwed into place.
Whereas in traditional joint replacement surgery, a large incision is necessary in order to expose the entire joint and may also require detaching and reattaching soft tissues such as muscles and tendons in order to access the joint, minimally invasive joint replacement uses small incisions and disturbs the surrounding soft tissue as little as possible.
Not all patients who are considering a joint replacement are candidates for a minimally invasive joint replacement, but it is an option worth discussing with your orthopedic surgeon.
Are You a Candidate for Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery?
For many orthopedic injuries and conditions, conservative treatments and traditional surgery are still preferred. Dr. Hoover has advanced training and many years of experience performing minimally invasive procedures and will help guide you to the best treatment for your individual needs.
If you’re considering surgery for an orthopedic condition, schedule an appointment at East Tennessee Orthopedics and Sports today by calling (865) 316-3650 to learn more about our minimally invasive surgery options and to find out whether you are a good candidate for this type of surgery.