My surgeon uses Minimall Invasive Surgery (MIS). I believe in it 100%. My incisions are 4 inches long--and the stem of my tibial prosthesis is shorter than the usual ones.
My surgeon works with Stryker and they have developed some special tools for him to use while using such a small incision. He also uses computer assisted navigation which helps to make sure that there are not misalignments. He does about 300-400 knees a year.
What you do not want is MIS surgery from someone who is new at it or who wants to try one!! You must have a knee specialist who is more than well trained in this type of surgery.
I think that the first three months are easier with this surgery. It does not give any advantages for length of recovery or really, ultimate outcome, in my opinion. However, having an easier first three months was well worth it to me. You really cannot see my scars unless the light is just right, which I like since I do not like to talk about TKR with strangers.
For me, I had a GA, got up about 20 min after I got back from the recovery room to go to the bathroom. I walked without a walker or a cane--I had to use crutches in the hospital!! But put them away as soon as I got home. I stayed two days, walked out on my own.
My bend was 90 in the hospital, did not use a CPM since my doc said they were useless after you get 90 degrees. Was 100 at four weeks--am 150 now.
At four week I started going on regular 20 mile bike rides. Always used an outpatient pt--I drove myself after 10 days. I used Percoset for the first two weeks, 1 every four hours, after that I dropped to one every six hours for probably another two weeks or so. After that, I used it late in the evening. Stopped all narcotics at three months.
This is a difficult surgery and you are flat on your back for the first two weeks--but, I think the MIS helped me to get to the outcome that I have. Kelly