Many orthopedic conditions require surgery, but new minimally invasive techniques are now available that can minimize the impact of surgery and allow more rapid recovery.

Ankle surgery and foot surgery are now done using minimally invasive techniques. Click here to view an actual minimally invasive ankle surgery. Click here to view an actual minimally invasive foot surgery. A new minimally invasive surgery that has brought faster recovery for serious Lisfranc injuries is shown here.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques and special less-invasive instruments are now available. Most (but not all) of our knee, ankle and foot surgeries are now performed using less invasive techniques. Dr. DeGroot has developed special minimally invasive techniques for foot and ankle repairs, fracture repair, bone grafting, Lisfranc surgery, and tumor treatment. Technologies such as flexible endo-button implants, image guided micro-incision surgery, endosurgery, and thermal ablation surgery are examples of the tools available.

Minimally invasive techniques can also be applied to the post-operative phase of your surgery.. Examples of less-invasive aids to recovery include miniature electronic pain medicine delivery systems that allow patients to go home sooner while remaining pain-free, and inflatable pneumatic casts that the patient can remove in order to shower.

In some orthopedic conditions, less invasive treatments now appear to be superior to convenional surgery. In these conditions, less invasive techniques lead to the reduction in the extent of surgery. Remember, minimally invasive techniques are not always preferable to normal treatments simply because they exist. Your surgeon should discuss all the options with you and give you the information you need to make the right treatment choices.

Many new implants and devices are available now, but some have been shown to be potentially dangerous or even seriously flawed. Unfortunately, some doctors have been paid to promote these new implants and devices, and their patients ended up paying the price.

These facts make it even more important that your surgeon discuss all the risks and benfits of the planned surgery with you. In addition, you doctor should fully disclose and reveal any commercial relationships he or she has with the manufacturers of the implants or procedures being offered to you.

If you would like more information on how these treatments may help you with your particular health concerns, please contact our office.