Minimally invasive surgery in orthopaedics. Small is beautiful?

SH Yeung
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong

With the blooming of minimally invasive procedures in surgical specialties, many orthopaedic subspecialties have been evolving along such lines. Despite the apparent paradox that many orthopaedic implants are quite bulky to start off with, different methods have been adopted to insert them safely with the least possible trauma. Altering time-honoured incisons and surgical techniques has often been helpful. The industry is also very keen to re-design implants for this purpose and has contributed substantial momentum in this direction. Coupled with the use of operating microscopes, endoscopes, and imaging modalities, operations can be performed with greater precision and lesser trauma. The advent of computer-assisted technology is another step forward. It is through constant attention to minimising tissue trauma and a combination of different methods available, that surgeons can achieve the ultimate goals of minimally invasive surgery.

Hong Kong Med J 2008;14:303-7

Key words: Orthopedics; Surgical procedures, minimally invasive