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MIS- Qualifying factors

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Lvc595

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Has anyone wanted an MIS surgery but the Dr. said they didn't qualify?
Is it becuase the Dr. is not trained in the newer techniques?

There are different types of knees, has anyone had the zimmer knee?
I'm trying to get perpared for my visit to my 3rd Dr.
I'm only 54 so I fear that the knee will not last long.

Thanks,
Lori
 
I've heard there are some requirements for MIS related to your body weight. Our forum nurse, Josephine, can tell you more about what the requirements might be. She'll likely be checking in here soon.

Lots of people on the forum have had Zimmer knees put in....that's what mine is. Lori, I think you are worrying needlessly about the length of time a replacement knee will last. With the new technologies, doctors don't really have the history to know exactly how long today's joints will remain viable. In the past doctors gave you 15-20 years. Some now say up to 25 years. But the thing to focus on is that, if your lifestyle is not what it should be because of a bad joint, you need to replace it so you can enjoy these years pain free. We have many forum members in their 20's, 30's and 40's who have had successful replacements.

But....since this is major surgery, I completely understand your concern. Hopefully you will find the answers you need to make your own decision about what's best for you in the posts here on BoneSmart. Don't hesitate to write whenever you have a question or concern!
 
There's a range of approaches that get mixed up with different joints. A true MIS is really only possible in a hip replacement or knees that are using a just partial replacement. But total knees can still be done through reduced incisions and most surgeons, it seems, are slowly altering their practice to make their incisions smaller which is great! But there is a kind of guideline as in this image

[Bonesmart.org] MIS- Qualifying factors


However, the presence of excess fat around the knee does make access somewhat problematic and so in those cases, the incisions just have to be bigger in order to do the job. But how much bigger just depends. You have to understand that length of incision is not an absolute thing. No two patients will have the same kind or length of incision and no two surgeons would do the same kind of incision.

Hope this helps some.
 
You have to understand that length of incision is not an absolute thing. No two patients will have the same kind or length of incision and no two surgeons would do the same kind of incision.

And are some surgeons doing a "combo"? My second surgeon did NOT cut my quads (which would be MIS), the scar is only about an inch shorter than my other knee, so definitely not a true MIS. He never mentioned MIS, although we briefly discussed a partial, but because of the lifelong history it was a fast discussion because I would soon need a revision on it. A TKR was the only logical procedure.

I've gotta admit--I'm not concerned about the length of the scar, but not having the quad cut has made a huge difference!

Weezy
 
Well, like I said - surgeons all do their own thing. They may get out a book of Watson-Jones Recommended Approaches For Orthoapedic Surgery and study it like mad the night before (I'm speaking of chaps in training here!) but when it comes to it, the scalpel is in their hand and they will do what seems meet at the time.

Think of it this way - you're making a blouse. You look at the pattern but the blouse ends up being cut and sewn according to what you think is good. And no two seamtresses or tailors are going to do it the same.

There y'go! You're a blouse now! (But not a big girl's blouse!
[Bonesmart.org] MIS- Qualifying factors
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