Minimally invasive procedures reduce pain and speed recovery

One of the biggest advances in orthopedic medicine is the development of minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures as an alternative to traditional surgery for joint repair. Arthroscopy eliminates the need for large surgical incisions, greatly reducing the risk of complications, post-operative swelling, and pain while dramatically improving recovery times. Originally used as a diagnostic tool, arthroscopic procedures are now commonly used for knee, shoulder and hip repair. A tremendous advantage of these procedures is that most are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to begin rehabilitation and return to daily activities within days.

Although arthroscopic procedures are not an option for all orthopedic surgeries, recent advances in these techniques have greatly increased the number of people who are eligible for joint repair.