Kelsey-Seybold Orthopedics Kelsey-Seybold physicians collaborate to care for patients.

Orthopedic injuries can sideline you temporarily, but new surgical techniques are helping patients get back in the game of life faster than ever.

In recent years, minimally invasive techniques have significantly reduced the rehabilitation time needed for certain procedures. At Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, our orthopedic surgeons are on the leading edge of surgical innovations for these injuries.

Below are a few examples of Kelsey-Seybold’s history of advancements in orthopedic surgery.

• 1999, Jeffrey Whelan, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Kelsey-Seybold, patented a new device to help repair ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears, a common sports injury.

• In 2002, Glenn Landon, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and Department Chief of Orthopedics, performed one of the first minimally invasive hip replacement surgeries in Houston.

• In 2004, Allen Deutsch, M.D., Kelsey-Seybold orthopedic surgeon employs new arthroscopic techniques to repair torn rotator cuffs and stabilize dislocated shoulders.

• Kelsey-Seybold orthopedic surgeons were among the first in Houston to offer minimally invasive surgeries for knee injuries. Recently, our knee specialists have been offering partial knee replacement and gender knee replacement.

Traditional “open” surgery involves cutting through healthy tissue such as skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons to reach the injured area to be repaired. Recovery time involves healing of the surgical incision as well as the site that is surgically repaired.

The idea behind minimally invasive surgery is to make small incisions, insert tiny cameras and other equipment to do the surgery, and minimize the need to cut through precious healthy tissue.

Minimally invasive surgery has many advantages over traditional open surgery, including:

• Smaller surgical incisions. For example, a minimally invasive hip replacement requires about a 3-inch incision compared with a traditional incision of 8-12 inches.

• Shorter hospital stay. Many minimally invasive surgeries can be done on an outpatient basis, with the patient going home the same day as surgery.

• Less blood loss. Smaller incisions mean less bleeding.

• Less post-operative pain. Smaller incisions mean less tissue is traumatized.

• Faster healing times. Patients who have minimally invasive surgeries can expect much quicker returns to work, sports and everyday activities.