# The Low Mini-Midvastus Approach for Minimally Invasive Total Knee Arthroplasty

## TL;DR

A new minimally invasive knee surgery technique preserves muscle and reduces pain, aiding faster recovery and higher patient satisfaction.

## Contribution

A refined low mini-midvastus approach for TKA that preserves muscle integrity while ensuring surgical exposure.

## Key findings

- The low mini-midvastus approach preserves the vastus medialis obliquus muscle while allowing adequate surgical exposure.
- This technique is associated with reduced postoperative pain and faster recovery in primary TKA patients.
- The approach is adaptable to anatomical variations and suitable for conventional primary TKA.

## Abstract

The low mini-midvastus approach is a refinement of minimally invasive techniques in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This technique involves making a precise muscle-splitting incision along the vastus medialis obliquus, retaining a 1-cm wide inferomedial cuff of the muscle belly, preserving the extensor mechanism while maintaining sufficient surgical exposure. We hypothesize that the low mini-midvastus approach minimizes postoperative pain, accelerates recovery, and enhances patient satisfaction by optimizing vastus medialis obliquus integrity. It is suitable for primary TKA and adaptable to challenging anatomical variations. In this study, we describe our surgical technique and experience with such an approach for conventional primary TKA that represents a refinement of the midvastus spectrum that prioritizes muscle preservation while maintaining adequate exposure.