NoBlood

Article Summary: New Minimally Invasive Procedures Help Orthopedic Patients Feel Better

Minimally invasive surgery as part of staged care in orthopedic trauma is reported on in this article. Techniques for stabilization and repair of orthopedic trauma have improved with the use of staged treatment and minimally invasive surgical procedures to promote bone and joint healing and repair with a greatly minimized rate of infection in orthopedic surgical patients. Infection has historically been a large problem, and the risk can now be substantially lowered with the use of minimally invasive techniques, requiring only small incisions to the skin rather than opening up an entire joint in a lengthy surgery. Such surgeries all too often resulted in negative outcomes, but where surgeons apply the staged treatment techniques, orthopedic traumas have become much easier to manage with greatly reduced risk to the patient. Not mentioned in the article are certain specific benefits resulting from use of minimally invasive techniques, including reduced length of time spent under anesthesia, reduced length of surgery/cost of OR time, and the diminished amount of blood loss a patient experiences, thereby also reducing the risk of blood transfusion.

LINK TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://wcco.com/seenon/local_story_209013918.html

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Jan Grossberg, RN, BSN
Editorial Team