Minimally invasive hip resurfacing (MIS) is a total or partial
hip surgery that can be carried out through an incision of less than 10 cm (4 inches) without imparting great forces on the
anatomy
Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having it ...
or compromising component positioning.
[Comis Orthopaedics website]
The modified posterior MIS approach to hip resurfacing and
total hip arthroplasty (hip replacement) displays a host of advantages to the patient:
# Less post-operative pain
# Less soft tissue damage and pressure on muscle fibres.
# Shorter hospital stay
# Lower blood loss
# Smaller incision
# Quicker return to work and functional activities
Technique
The process of shortening the operative field (mini-incision) for hip resurfacing from the conventional open approach (15–30 cm), to a mini-incision approach (7–15 cm) has been well documented in the realm of hip surgery.
It has been suggested by some surgeons, however, that in doing this one runs the risk of implanting the components incorrectly, especially the
acetabular
The acetabulum (), also called the cotyloid cavity, is a concave surface of the pelvis. The head of the femur meets with the pelvis at the acetabulum, forming the hip joint.
Structure
There are three bones of the ''os coxae'' (hip bone) that ...
component.
[McMinn Centre website] It has also noted that during femoral head reaming (drilling of the femoral head) with the surgical site being so small, the conventional instruments can damage the soft tissues.
Having accepted this, the essential criterion for minimally invasive hip resurfacing are:
# An implant designed for MIS delivery
# MIS instruments for tissue protection
# Specialised instrumentation for femoral neck targeting, acetabular reaming, acetabular impaction and
retractors that are soft tissue friendly
History of minimally invasive hip surgery
Minimally invasive techniques for
total hip arthroplasty (THA, or hip replacement) have been well described by various authors including:
* Richard Berger: "2 incision" technique + fluoroscopy.
* Thomas P.Sculco: posterior approach.
* Innsbruck (Prof.Nolger): Direct anterior.
Some MIS approaches for THA have been largely abandoned by surgeons, most especially Richard Berger's approach.
None of the above approaches offer a fluoroscopy-free approach to Minimal Invasive Hip Resurfacing. The only documented approach for minimally invasive hip resurfacing, having accepted the definition above, is that of Mr.G.S.Chana of the
Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) is a National Health Service specialist orthopaedic hospital situated in Northfield, Birmingham, England. The ROH specialises in bone and joint problems.
History
The hospital's origins in a new convalescent ...
, Birmingham, UK.
Mr.G.S.Chana, the creator of the MIS reamer handle and the Chana Targeting Device has proved that it is possible to perform hip resurfacing through an incision of 6.5 cm's without macerating the soft tissues and incorrectly implanting the acetabular cup.
Conventional hip resurfacing today
Conventional hip resurfacing techniques were created as an alternative to total
hip replacement
Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant, that is, a hip prosthesis. Hip replacement surgery can be performed as a total replacement or a hemi (half) replacement. Such joint replacement o ...
, whereby only the diseased cartilage and a small surrounding area of the femur are removed, to be replaced with new surfaces.
Although
hip resurfacing
Hip resurfacing has been developed as a surgical alternative to total hip replacement (THR). The procedure consists of placing a cap (usually made of cobalt-chrome metal), which is hollow and shaped like a mushroom, over the head of the femur whi ...
has been around for some 40 years, the contemporary metal on metal bearing hip resurfacing has only increased in popularity amongst surgeons and patients in the past decade. Health-related quality of life measures were markedly improved and patient satisfaction was favorable after hip resurfacing arthroplasty.
Hip resurfacing has been welcomed by a number of surgeons globally, but others have met the technique with a certain degree of hesitation due to a number of potential disadvantages:
Incisions for hip resurfacing (posterior approach) have been well documented to stretch in excess of 20 cm in length. Hip resurfacing has been described as a more complicated procedure in comparison to
hip replacement
Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant, that is, a hip prosthesis. Hip replacement surgery can be performed as a total replacement or a hemi (half) replacement. Such joint replacement o ...
, and the operative technique described by Derek McMinn FRCS Ed, for posterior hip resurfacing shows operative incision similar to the ones mentioned earlier.
References
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Surgical procedures and techniques
Minimally-invasive surgery