Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty: a 10-feature evolutionary approach

The development of minimally invasive techniques as applied to total knee arthroplasty has been a gradual process. We have performed our current procedure oil over 400 knees since January 1999, but the technique has been evolving since 1991. This article describes and defines the use of minimally invasive approaches in general using illustrations involving shoulder surgery and unicompartmental knee replacement, then presents the rationale for the 10 key features in the evolution of our present approach (the current surgical technique is also illustrated). The article concludes with comments on the future evolution of these techniques for total knee arthroplasty.