What Is MIS? | Joint Replacement Surgery | Who Can Have MIS? | Benefits
Where Is MIC Performed? | Who Performs MIS?

Minimally invasive surgery, also called laparoscopic surgery, often involves inserting long, slender probes or instruments into three of four small openings in the body the size of buttonholes. One instrument is a small, lighted camera, or endoscope, that projects the images on a television screen. The surgeon then performs the surgical procedure, guided by the image on the screen

People used to live with knee and hip pain caused by arthritis, accepting it as part of aging. Now, thanks to Minimally Invasive Joint Replacement Surgery (MIJRS), pain does not have to be a daily issue.

MIJRS at The Williamsport Hospital & Medical Center can mean:

• Faster, less painful recovery and rehabilitation. .
• Smaller scars. .
• Less blood loss. .
• Less damage to the important muscles and tissues around the joint. .
• Shorter hospital stays. .
• Long lasting, durable joints through the use of modern materials.

MIJRS is not for everyone. Successful candidates for this type of surgery are:

• At a healthy weight. .
• In good health. .
• Younger than traditional joint replacement patients. .
• Motivated to work at their recovery.

Obese individuals or those who have had hip or knee surgery before usually aren't good candidates. The decision to have this type of surgery must be made after a careful evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon, along with a discussion of the risks and benefits of MIJRS compared to traditional joint replacement.

MIJRS should not be confused with arthroscopic procedures that treat torn cartilage, requiring only very small incisions. In MIJRS procedures, surgeons still make incisions large enough to put in the knee implant - usually four to five inches in length.

This type of surgery is still fairly new. Therefore, medical research has not verified how the long-term results compare to traditional replacement surgery.

References & Useful Links:

Minimally Invasive Total Knee Replacement, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Joint Replacement: An Inside Look, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
New studies show minimally invasive surgery may improve outcomes for patients undergoing joint repair, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

Orthopedic surgeons who perform MIJR:

• John H. Bailey, MD .
• Patrick J. Carey, DO .
• Thomas Connolly, MD .
• Ronald E. DiSimone, MD .
• Mark A. Rackish, MD .
• Craig L. Stabler, MD.

Not everyone is eligible to have a minimally invasive surgery procedure. Our skilled surgeons know best when it is right to use traditional or minimally invasive surgery, depending on the patients medical history, overall health and type of illness or disease.

The main purpose of minimally invasive surgery is to make the experience of surgery easier on the patient, provide better physical results, reduced pain, shorter recovery time and faster return to normal. Compare a common traditional gallbladder surgery with minimally invasive gallbladder surgery.

• 6-9-inch incision in abdomen.
• 5-8 days in the hospital.
• 4-6 weeks of slow recovery .

• 4 incisions in abdomen, all smaller than 1/2-inch in diameter.
• 0-2 days in the hospital.
• 1 week recovery and return to normal activities.

Minimally invasive surgeries are done in our Same Day Surgery department, located at Divine Providence Hospital or in Same Day Services at The Williamsport Hospital. Both hospitals have convenient partking and a wide covered entrance.

When the procedure is finished, patients are taken to a room for a short period of observation. Here, they may sit in a specially designed lounge chair, watch television, visit with a guest and enjoy a snack until they are ready to go home.

At Susquehanna Health System general surgeons along with surgeons in over nine specialties perform minimally invasive surgical procedures that include gallbladder surgery, gynecological, urological, heart, abdomen and breast surgery. A complete listing of our surgical procedures is listed under Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures.