Knee replacement surgery continues to evolve, offering patients less pain, quicker mobility, and shorter recovery times. One major advancement is the shift toward muscle-sparing techniques that minimize damage to surrounding tissue. In this blog, we explore how approaches like the subvastus approach or quadriceps-sparing methods are changing what recovery looks like after knee replacement.
Understanding a Muscle-Sparing Knee Replacement
Traditional total knee replacement (TKR) often involves cutting through part of the quadriceps tendon and muscle to access the joint. While effective, this can lead to longer recovery and more post-operative weakness. Muscle-sparing techniques avoid disrupting the quadriceps, resulting in less trauma and a faster return to movement.
The term “muscle-sparing” refers to surgical approaches that preserve key muscles and tendons, particularly the quadriceps group, during joint exposure and implant placement. This reduces bleeding, swelling, and soft tissue damage, which are common causes of post-op delays.
Exploring the Subvastus and Quadriceps-Sparing Techniques
The subvastus approach involves accessing the knee joint by gently lifting and moving aside the vastus medialis (a part of the quadriceps) rather than cutting through it. This method maintains muscle integrity while still allowing adequate access for implant positioning.
Similarly, the quadriceps-sparing approach uses a small incision and navigates around the quadriceps muscle entirely, often with the help of specialized instruments. Because the quadriceps tendon remains intact, patients often regain mobility faster and experience less pain and weakness.
These approaches are especially beneficial for active individuals, younger patients, and those hoping to return to daily routines or physical therapy with fewer limitations.
Personalized Surgical Planning Matters
Selecting the right muscle-sparing approach depends on your unique anatomy, health history, and recovery goals. A skilled orthopedic surgeon can help determine whether the subvastus approach or quadriceps-sparing technique is best suited for you. To learn how innovative, muscle-preserving knee replacement techniques can transform your recovery, book a personalized consultation today.
AUTHOR: Richard Boe, MD is a board-certified fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive direct anterior hip replacement and robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery at Resurgens Orthopaedics serving the greater Atlanta area. Dr. Boe is an active member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the Georgia Orthopaedic Society.