Primer on Minimally Invasive Subvastus Total Knee Arthroplasty

Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty is an excellent alternative to a standard approach in knee arthroplasty. The technique can be learned at one's own pace and progress to a true muscle-sparing technique. A continuum of decreasing exposure and wound size, along with specialized instuments, facilitate the learning curve and ultimately allow the operation to succeed. Benefits include preservation of the extensor mechanism, a tighter soft tissue envelope with greater ease of ligament balancing, and faster recovery to independent ambulation. Implant positioning remains reliable and should not affect the ultimate long-term success of total knee arthroplasty.