Minimally Invasive Procedures
Smaller scars, faster recovery, fewer pain meds, and better outcomes!
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Spine
- Elbow
- Hand & Wrist
- Hip
- Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery
- Foot & Ankle
We encourage our patients to educate themselves about minimally invasive treatment options. Click on the body part you want to learn more about!
What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery is a surgery minimizing surgical incisions to reduce trauma to the body. This type of surgery is usually performed using thin-needles and an endoscope to visually guide the surgery. The indications for minimally invasive surgery are the same as those for traditional open surgery. Surgery is usually recommended only when a period of nonsurgical treatment — such as medications and physical therapy — has not relieved the painful symptoms caused by the injury or condition.
Types of Minimally Invasive Surgery
There are numerous minimally invasive surgeries including but not limited to:
tendon and ligament repair, joint reconstruction and replacement, treatments for herniated disc and spinal stenosis, repairing a fracture, and injections.
In most cases minimally invasive surgeries require smaller incisions, cause less muscle damage, and can lead to quick recoveries.
Neck
The cervical spine or neck is made up of 7 vertebrae (C1-C7). The cervical vertebrae work with the muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons to provide support, structure and stabilization to the neck. They also support the weight of the head. Minimally invasive surgery can treat many neck conditions including:
Follow the links below to learn more about minimally invasive treatments for the neck.
Shoulder
Shoulder injuries are frequently caused by athletic activities that involve excessive, repetitive, overhead motion, such as swimming, tennis, pitching, and weightlifting. Injuries can also occur during everyday activities such as gardening, hanging pictures and house cleaning. Minimally invasive surgery can treat many shoulder conditions including:
Follow the links below to learn more about minimally invasive treatments for the shoulder.
- Arthroscopic Bankart Repair
- Arthroscopic Capsular Plication
- Arthroscopic Capsular Release
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Diagnostic Arthroscopy (Shoulder)
- Distal Clavicle Excision (Resection, Arthroscopic Technique)
- HemiCap Resurfacing
- Intracapsular (Glenoid) Injection
- Joint Injection (Therapeutic, Shoulder)
- Mini-Open Rotator Cuff Repair
- Rotator Cuff Repair (Mini-Open, Supraspinatus Tendon-to-Bone Insertion)
- Shoulder Resurfacing
- Subacromial Injection
- Suprascapular Nerve Block (Fluoroscopically Guided)
- Ultrasound-Guided Injection for Shoulder Pain
Spine
The thoracic and lumbar spine provides the main support for your body, allowing you to stand upright, bend, and twist, while protecting the spinal cord from injury. A healthy spine provides strength, is flexible, and allows movement in several planes. Strong bones and muscles, flexible tendons and ligaments, and sensitive nerves contribute to a healthy spine. Yet, any of these structures affected by strain, injury, or disease can cause pain. Minimally invasive surgery can treat many spine conditions including:
Follow the links below to learn more about minimally invasive treatments for the spine.
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
- Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection
- Facet Joint Injections
- Interspinous Stabilization (Coflex)™
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Laminectomy
- Lumbar Disc Microsurgery
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection
- Minimally-Invasive Lumbar Microdecompression
- Minimally-Invasive TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
- Radiofrequency Neurotomy of the Lumbar Facets
- Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection
- Selective Endoscopic Discectomy
- TLIF: Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
- Total Disc Replacement
- Vertebroplasty
- XLIF® Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Elbow
The elbow is a hinge joint consisting of three bones. All three of these bones are in contact with each other. The joint is surrounded and lined by cartilage, muscles, and tendons that provide support, stability, and ease of movement. The elbow joint allows for the extension, flexion, and rotation of the arm. The range of motion is dependent upon the proper articulation of the elbow joint. Minimally invasive surgery can treat many elbow conditions including:
Follow the links below to learn more about minimally invasive treatments for the elbow.
Hand & Wrist
Our hands serve many purposes. Hands help us eat, dress, write, earn a living, create art, and do many other activities. To do these activities, our hands require sensation and movement, such as joint motion, tendon gliding, and muscle contraction. When a problem takes place in the hand, care must be given to all the different types of tissues that make function of the hand possible. Minimally invasive surgery can treat many hand and wrist conditions including:
Visit our video library below to learn more about minimally invasive hand and wrist procedures.
Hip
The hip joint is made up of two bones: the pelvis and the femur (the thighbone). It is the largest ball-and-socket joint in your body. Many powerful muscles connect to and cross by the hip joint, making it possible for us to accelerate quickly during actions like walking, running and jumping. Minimally invasive surgery can treat many hip conditions including:
- Avascular Necrosis (AVN) of the Hip
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Hip (Osteoarthritis of the Hip)
- Labral Tears of the Hip
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Follow the links below to learn more about minimally invasive treatments for the hip.
Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery
The knee is the largest joint in the body, and one of the most easily injured. It is made up of the lower end of the thighbone (femur), which rotates on the upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the knee cap (patella), which slides in a groove on the end of the femur. The knee also contains large ligaments, which help control motion by connecting bones and by bracing the joint against abnormal types of motion. Minimally invasive surgery can treat many knee conditions including:
Follow the links below to learn more about minimally invasive treatments for the knee.
Foot & Ankle
The human foot is incredibly complex in its structures and function. The ankle serves as the foundation, shock absorber and is the driving force for forward motion. The foot can sustain enormous pressure (several tons over the course of a one-mile run) and provides flexibility and resiliency. These components work together to provide the body with support, balance, and mobility. Minimally invasive surgery can treat many foot and ankle conditions including:
- Achilles Tendon Injuries
- Bone Spur
- Bunions
- Bunionette
- Hammer Toe
- Hallux Rigidis
- Osteochondral Lesions
Follow the links below to learn more about minimally invasive treatments for the foot and ankle.
- Arthroscopy of the Ankle
- Arthroscopic articular cartilage repair (ankle)
- Bunion Correction with Scarf and Akin Osteotomy
- Bunionectomy (Chevron Bunionectomy)
- Bunionectomy With Wedge Osteotomy
- Bunionette Deformity Correction (Distal Fifth Metatarsal Osteotomy)
- Bunionette Deformity Correction (Fifth Metatarsal Partial Head Resection)
- Bunionette Deformity Correction (Overview)
- Calcaneal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Calcaneal Tongue-Type Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Cheilectomy
- Cotton Osteotomy
- Hammertoe Correction (PIP Joint Arthroplasty)
- Lapidus Procedure for Bunion Correction
- Tendon Transfer for Hammertoe (FDL tendon transfer)
What are the benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery?
Because minimally invasive surgery does not involve a long incision, it avoids significant muscle and tissue damage. Typically, this results in less pain after surgery and a faster recovery. Other benefits can include less scarring, less pain - and subsequently less pain medications, lower risk of infection, reduced blood loss, and same day return home.
Interactive Patient Education
We want to help you understand your diagnosis and treatment options. From neck to toes, muscles and bones, we have the information you need to feel confident throughout your treatment journey. Whether you want to research a treatment prior to seeing a physician or want to learn more about your diagnosis and the aspects of your care after your visit, our extensive clinical video library will provide you with the answers you are looking for.
Just click on the body part you want to learn more about above!
For answers to your more common Frequently Asked Questions and to learn more about orthopaedics in general, click here to visit our Resource Center.
Robotics
Robotic-assisted technology helps our surgeons provide patients with a personalized surgical experience. Skilled surgeons use these systems to perform hip and knee reconstruction surgery with greater precision for a more accurate implant and faster recovery.
Your physician will rely on their professional clinical judgment when deciding when a robotic assistant will be used on a patient by patient basis.