Minimally Invasive Surgery Has Major Benefits

Innovative techniques and advances in equipment design have dramatically changed the nature of orthopedic surgery. The current trend is toward minimally invasive surgery -- procedures that disrupt healthy bone and soft tissue as little as possible while repairing an injury. Minimally invasive techniques now include everything from fracture care, carpal tunnel surgery and knee resurfacing to complete knee replacement or hip replacement. Professional athletes rely on minimally invasive surgery to get them back on the field more quickly, and West Idaho Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has been there to help.

The benefits of less invasive surgical techniques are clear. A less disruptive procedure typically means a smaller incision, a shorter hospital stay and a rapid return to normal activities. However, these procedures also require more expertise and experience. That's why your Idaho orthopedic surgeon should be someone who is completely familiar with the latest surgical techniques. Orthopedic surgeons at West Idaho Orthopedics, with locations in Meridian and Caldwell, Idaho have access to state of the art equipment for minimally invasive surgical procedures.

While a hip replacement surgery or hip resurfacing naturally leaves an incision in a less visible area, large incisions elsewhere may be a conce
for some patients. Hands, wrists and elbows are often on display, so minimizing the visibility of a surgical procedure becomes a higher priority. Dr. Robert Hansen, a specialist in surgical repair of carpal tunnel syndrome and other hand surgeries, relies on minimally invasive techniques to restore function while keeping incision sites inconspicuous. The delicate structures of the wrist and hand demand precision and expertise; as a member of the American Association for Hand Surgery, Dr. Hansen is eminently qualified to perform minimally invasive orthopedic surgery on these nerve-rich and complex joints.

Recent advances in joint replacement surgery techniques have allowed Dr. George Nicola, a Meridian, Idaho, orthopedic doctor who specializes in sports medicine at West Idaho Orthopedics, to perform quadriceps-sparing total knee replacement surgery. Because the new technique requires no cutting of the major thigh muscle that supplies the motive force for walking, patients who receive knee replacements using the quad-sparing surgery heal more quickly than with traditional replacements. Patients even report feeling less discomfort during their recovery periods with quadriceps-sparing knee surgery.

West Idaho Orthopedics and Sports Medicine's staff is fully committed to shortening recovery times, reducing discomfort and restoring every patient to maximum mobility through minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Hansen , Dr. Nicola, Dr. John Smith and Dr. Michael Shevlin and Dr. Charles Schneider have spent years perfecting surgical techniques that have a dramatic impact on mobility with a minimum of disruption for healthy tissues.

From repairing sports injuries to performing full joint replacements, minimally invasive surgery is changing patients' lives. West Idaho Orthopedics' medical staff is proud to be a part of those changes.