A surgical procedure, called minimally invasive (MIS) Total Knee Replacement surgery, is improving patient recovery times and helping local Austin residents return to their active lifestyles with less pain.

"Patients benefit tremendously from this brand new mini-incision surgery," explains Randall Schultz, MD, of The Orthopaedic Group, who has been performing this procedure since his medical training days. "This procedure uses a 3 ½ inch to 5 inch incision, leaving a smaller scar. We use the same implants as previous knee surgeries, but with a different surgical approach. It allows the patient to recover more quickly, have less pain, have less blood loss, and a shorter incision."

Dr. Schultz is Fellowship Trained in the MIS joint replacement procedure and has performed more than 200 joint replacements during his advanced training in San Antonio. He currently practices at Seton Medical Center and most recently performed MIS knee surgery on Lee Ellis, a Georgetown resident, who had been told for the past 8 years by several different physicians that she would need knee replacement surgery eventually. "I have always been active and love hiking the Grand Canyon, bicycling and walking", says Ellis, a 62-year-old

retired paralegal. "Since my husband and I retired to Austin recently, my knee had been giving me problems and I wasn't able to do the things I like. I had hurt my knee in high school and then again when hiking. I had arthroscopic surgery years ago and it helped temporarily."

In January, a friend convinced her to attend a seminar that Dr. Schultz was giving at Sun City. "I had done my homework on the type of joint replacements available and I liked what Dr. Schultz had to say. He is very knowledgeable and discussed all of the treatment options with me before I decided to go ahead with the surgery," explains Ellis. "He really took the time to answer my questions and listened to my concerns."

Dr. Schultz is among the leading edge surgeons in the nation who are performing this mini-incision technique using surgical instruments developed by medical device manufacturer, Smith & Nephew. Ellis did extensive Internet research on the major medical devices available and settled on Dr. Schultz and the MIS Knee procedure. "I also like that he uses Oxinium (a ceramic metal alloy) and I did my Internet research and found that it should have less wear than other implants on the market."

Oxinium was a good choice for Ellis, according to Dr. Schultz, because she is relatively young and can benefit for years to come. "I try to slow her down, but she is very active," says Dr. Schultz of Ellis. "Her first surgery was a great success and she went home two days after the operation. If she had the old procedure, she would have been in the hospital for three to five days."

"The MIS Knee Replacement surgery can help patients with symptoms of arthritis that compromises their quality of life," explains Dr. Schultz. "I believe that patients should wait as long as possible before having their knee replaced. This is not something that happens overnight. There is a gradual onset that progresses over the years and is treated with medications, therapy, injections, exercises and weight modification."

"My biggest concern for the patients is their quality of life," says Dr. Schultz. "I want to help them get back to their lives and careers faster. This surgery helps them to do that and I take great satisfaction in seeing Lee Ellis and other like her become active and healthy again."

For more information about this innovative procedure, click HERE.