The ugly underbelly of the MIS movement: in the affirmative.

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for hip or knee arthroplasty has been a recent rage in orthopedics. However, there are no substantial data supporting the use of these techniques, and multiple articles document increased risk of complications with MIS technique. Unfortunately, a huge marketing effort on the part of the implant industry and many surgeons is creating pressure on surgeons to sacrifice the quality of outcome for purported improved cosmesis or shorter length of hospital stay. This review examines the data from prospective studies evaluating the outcomes of MIS techniques and implores the surgeon to place quality before decreased incisional quantity!