Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery

Greenwich Hospital orthopedic surgeons and staff specialize in minimally invasive surgical techniques for a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Surgeries that once required extensive hospital stays and long periods for recovery and recuperation are now routinely done with this less invasive approach, often on an outpatient basis.

In many cases, surgeons make two or three small incisions and insert a tiny scope to guide the surgery. Miniaturized instruments and innovative techniques help protect surrounding tissue, causing less trauma to the body and offering significant advantages to patients including:

• Quicker recovery
• Less blood loss
• Less scarring
• Less pain
• Faster return to normal activity

Some of the surgeries being done through minimally invasive procedures at Greenwich Hospital include:

• ACL and PCL reconstruction
• Arthritis treatment
• Carpal tunnel repair
• Cartilage transplantation
• Joint replacement
• Knee, hip, ankle, elbow and wrist arthroscopy
• Shoulder instability repair
• Shoulder rotator cuff repair
• Spinal fusion--minimally invasive and open. 

Ambulatory and Minor Surgery

Many orthopedic procedures, and most arthroscopic surgeries, may be performed through same-day surgery, sparing patients the cost and inconvenience of overnight hospital stays.

Ambulatory Surgery

The Greenwich Hospital Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Ambulatory Surgical Center, located at 55 Holly Hill Lane, Greenwich delivers high quality care for a wide range of ambulatory procedures including orthopedic and arthroscopic surgeries, all with full anesthesia coverage.

The Helmsley Center has three operating rooms, state-of-the-art surgical equipment, a full-service sterile processing facility and ten post-anesthesia beds.

Patients who have had general anesthesia usually stay for several hours. Those who have had sedation may go home much sooner.

Minor Surgery

Minor surgery, such as certain kinds of foot surgery and other orthopedic procedures not requiring general anesthesia, is performed at the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Ambulatory Surgical Center. Patients are asked to arrive about 15 minutes before the scheduled procedure and fasting is not required. The short stay makes this a convenient surgical option and many people return directly to work or other activities afterward.