What Is Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)?
Minimally Invasive Surgery for the foot and ankle refers to a type of surgery done through a very small incision that requires little or no stitching. Through these extremely small incisions, surgeons insert specially designed instruments to perform the operation.
Surgery is carried out through these small incisions cause minimal or no injury to the surrounding tissues.
Advancements in the design of surgical instruments and implants have facilitated the state of art Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) procedures that we perform today.   MIS was first performed over of 50 years ago, with varying and unpredictable results. MIS today is safe and more comfortable for patients. There is a significant learning curve for surgeons and MIS should only be performed appropriately trained surgeons. Miss Ros Miller, FRCS Tr&Orth, is one of the leaders within this field. Ros has acquired these specialised surgical skills after a significant investment of her time in extensive training, continuing education, seminars, and fellowships within the MIS foot and ankle surgery community.
Wherever possible we will always offer the patient minimally invasive surgery.
Is MIS Effective?
We strongly believe MIS is a very effective surgical technique. The significant advances in both medicine and technology, allowing patients to remain mobile. Painful bunions, recurring corns, heel spurs, contracted toes and hammertoes can all be corrected by this technique.
What Are The Benefits Of MIS?
Less Injury To The Soft Tissues – With MIS there is less injury to soft tissue. Compared to traditional open surgery where long incisions are made that may create more trauma to the soft tissue, MIS uses much smaller incisions, disturbing less tissue and leading to quicker recovery time.
Less Pain – Studies have shown that patients of minimally invasive surgery report less pain than those patients undergoing traditional open surgery. As a result, post operatively, patients who have had MIS require less analgesia or pain-killers.
Shorter Surgery Time – Because there is a small incision, surgery times for MIS procedures are often shorter than traditional open surgeries.
Less Anaesthesia – which means more patients are eligible for treatment – Due to the nature of minimally invasive foot surgery procedures, patients can elect to remain awake or have light sedation during surgery. The use of special local and regional anaesthesia to the foot and ankle area, reduces the use of General Anaesthetics. Sometimes Conscious Sedation will be required. This opens up surgery possibilities for patients who may have been previously considered at risk for traditional surgeries due to medical history.
Less scaring – As a result of minimally invasive foot surgeries’ smaller incisions, scars left by these procedures are smaller and less noticeable. Of the scars that do form, they often have less of a jagged edge than those left by traditional open surgeries.
Less Downtime – The culmination of all of the above benefits is an improved recovery time allowing patients to start their rehabilitation programs quicker and back to their normal daily routine as soon as possible.
