The benefits minimally invasive surgery can have for you can be summarised as:
Minimally invasive surgery is a breakthrough in surgical techniques as it allows surgeons to perform operations through very small incisions, at times only requiring one or two small stitches to close.
This means that most major knee surgery involving problems with ligaments and cartilage can now be treated arthroscopically, such as:
The Oxford® Partial Knee System has thus been developed with specially designed instruments enabling them to be used through a smaller cut (3 inches) and the results of this change have been dramatic. Recovery now takes half as long as before using the more conventional procedure and only one third of the time after total knee replacement. The end result is a knee that bends as close to normal as possible, and the lack of postoperative pain has allowed most patients to leave the hospital two or three days after surgery. Some even go home on the same day.
However, it is important to note that this procedure is only appropriate in cases of early detection of osteoathiritis. In cases where the osteoarthrotis has spread to a greater part of the knee other, more extensive procedures must be considered.