What are the benefits of minimally-invasive orthopedic surgery?

There are several reasons why an orthopedic surgeon would want to choose a minimally-invasive surgical option as opposed to an open procedure. On the one hand: minimally invasive operations tend to have faster recovery times, less blood loss, and smaller incisions (which is good from an aesthetic perspective as it means smaller scars). On the other hand, minimally invasive options might not provide as much visibility into the surgical site as an open incision would, and depending on the procedure might not promote the type of fusion required. Of course, any surgical decision should be made by a trained and qualified physician and will depend entirely on the specific circumstances presented by the patient.