Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a technique used by foot and ankle surgeons to correct foot and ankle conditions and deformities with very small incisions. This is in contrast to traditional open surgeries, where surgeons make one large incision in order to see the surgical area and perform the procedure. While MIS is not a new phenomenon, it has advanced significantly over recent years.
Not all patients will benefit from minimally invasive surgical techniques, and each surgery should be considered case-by-case to pick the best treatment option for each patient. That said, minimally invasive techniques can result in excellent outcomes, smaller incisions, less pain, and a shorter recovery time.
Dr. Bob Baravaria DPM, FACFAS is a Board-Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Specialist. He is an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine and serves as Director of University Foot and Ankle Institute.
Dr. Baravarian has been involved in athletics his entire life and played competitive tennis in high school and college. He has an interest in sports medicine, arthritis therapy, and trauma/reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. He is also fluent in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Farsi, and Hebrew),