HSS has led the way in developing innovations for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Many knee procedures may now be performed with less pain and blood loss, and minimal scarring due to advancements in:

• smaller incision techniques
• customized surgical instruments
• innovative imaging and surgical navigation technologies

The result is a rapid recovery, high patient satisfaction, and the best possible outcomes.

One example is minimally invasive total knee replacement, which uses reduced incision lengths and/or avoids the need to disturb the quadriceps tendon. However, the key technological advancement that facilitated most minimally invasive knee procedures is arthroscopic surgery (knee arthroscopy).

The first arthroscopic surgery techniques emerged in 1980s. HSS performed its first arthroscopic ACL reconstruction surgery in 1985 when other orthopedic surgeons were still doing open surgery. This transformed the field of orthopedics by shortening recovery time and improving outcomes.