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Jiffy knee replacement

Posted by denhyg1run @denhyg1run, Oct 11, 2024

Has anyone heard about Jiffy Knee Replacement? It was invented by a Dr. Patel in Virginia. Supposedly they don't cut your femur or ligaments. Any knowledge would be beneficial. Here in Las Vegas, a Dr. McGee does them and the recovery is short and no need for pain meds. Thanks, Diana

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steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | Nov 19, 2025
In reply to @dbwwheeler "I am also in Phoenix. I highly recommend Mayo Clinic. Both knees done there and I..." + (show)
Profile picture for dbwwheeler @dbwwheeler

I am also in Phoenix. I highly recommend Mayo Clinic. Both knees done there and I can't say enough good things.

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@dbwwheeler

Yes...the Mayo Clinic, if you can get in, has great surgeons.

I have a friend who is scheduled for a Jiffy Knee from Dr. Kavanaugh in Scottsdale. I asked my incredible surgeon, Dr. Jimmy Chow, what he thought of the whole Jiffy Knee process. He replied that it entirely depends on the skill of the surgeon. I told him it was Dr. Kavanaugh and Dr. Chow said he had not heard anything bad about him. That is a compliment as Dr. Chow spends about 20% of his time doing revisions of other doctors' work.

I think Jimmy Chow is the best anywhere for knee and hip replacement. But he doesn't take insurance or Medicare. His fee must be paid to him but insurance covers the rest of the costs, at least for me. If he thinks that Dr. Kavanaugh is good, he is good.

So I would say, in order, Jimmy Chow, Mayo Clinic, Timothy Kavanaugh.

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steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | Nov 19, 2025
In reply to @steveinarizona "I am having TKR in late September. My surgeon uses a subvastus approach which is basically..." + (show)
Profile picture for steveinarizona @steveinarizona

I am having TKR in late September. My surgeon uses a subvastus approach which is basically what Jiffy knee does. He also use the CORI robot and the Journey II implants (he decides which one when he opens me up and determines the condition of my PCL and ACL).

My advice is to look for a doctor who uses the subvastus approach (going behind the muscles instead of cutting them) AND one who has successfully done hundreds (preferably thousands) of these particular procedures. I was chatting with my surgeon who is the primary inventor of the newest and least invasive hip replacement approaches (Superpath) and he agrees with those two steps but even though he is an inventor he believes that the second requirement (the experience requirement) is the most important.

There are many approaches to how to do a TKR including how and where to cut, whether a minimally invasive approach is used, whether a robot is used, which robot, which type of implant is used, whether the surgeon is going to try to save the ACL and/or the PCL AND -- MOST IMPORTANTLY -- how often the surgeon has successfully done his TKRs.

Do your research. If you can find a surgeon who does everything, go for it. If not, remember the advice that the most important requirement is the experience one!

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@steveinarizona

to close the loop. My surgery was delayed when my insurer declared it was not medically necessary. 5 days later, after a lot of legal threats, I was approved and got the replacement done on October 1st. I have had no post surgery pain. Dr. Chow did a BCR for me and a Functional alignment. Both of those require more complex surgery. On day 21 after surgery my ROM was measured at 122. On day 27 post surgery I was on the golf course.

I did make one mistake above. My surgeon used a mini mid-vastus approach, not a subvastus approach. Both are minimally invasive and go under the tendon but the subvastus approach goes under the muscle while the midvastus approach goes through the muscle fibers. He told me that the subvastus approach would give slightly less potential recovery pain but limited the field of work.

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zoey252 | @zoey252 | Nov 29, 2025
In reply to @nmh23 "You didn't have to take any pain meds? I have several steps in my townhouse. Will..." + (show)
Profile picture for nmh23 @nmh23

You didn't have to take any pain meds? I have several steps in my townhouse. Will I be okay in your experience? I am 70 but in pretty good shape for my age. I am getting my first knee done August 11 and my second in October. I am quite nervous. I live alone. Thank you for ANY suggestions.

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@nmh23
I think you’ve been misinformed about the pain meds. I would not have been able to have the procedure without them. However, my recovery is much faster, and 2 weeks after surgery I am only taking Tylenol for pain. Getting around well putting full pressure on that leg. Generally it is done as an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day. Biggest thing is DO YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY! Talk to the surgeon and get a good understanding of what he’ll be doing. Good luck to you!

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steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | Nov 30, 2025
In reply to @steveinarizona "Not truly unique. The muscle is the vastus muscle and many knee surgeons do a "SubV"..." + (show)
Profile picture for steveinarizona @steveinarizona

Not truly unique. The muscle is the vastus muscle and many knee surgeons do a "SubV" or "subvastus" approach which is what Jiffy knee does.

I am scheduled in ten days to get a new knee from a surgeon (Jimmy Chow) who uses the subvastus method. I am also hoping that the implant will be bicruciate retaining. My ACL and PCL look good on the MRI but I am concerned about the dislocation and whether it is too extreme for a bicruciate implant. It would be great if I could keep my ACL and PCL.

My has been to find a skilled surgeon using the subvastus method who has successfully done it at least hundreds of times using a robot (mine uses the CORI robot). Method, skill and experience.

Of the three, I believe that successful experience is the most important. I was chatting with my surgeon who is the principal inventor of the newest approach to hip replacement (superpath -- he did my left hip and I had zero pain from the surgery) and, although he is the inventor of the newest and best method of hip replacement, he also believes that the experience requirement is the most important.

A friend of mine is scheduled for a knee replacement with a Jiffy Knee surgeon here in Scottsdale. I mentioned that to my surgeon who commented that this Jiffy Knee surgeon in question is a good one with lots of experience but they might not all be.

So...approach (subv or equivalent), skill and lots of successful experience. Things can still go wrong but this will maximize your opportunity for a successful and relatively painless experience.

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@steveinarizona

I had my replacement on October 1st. My surgeon did what I asked and put in a bicruciate retaining implant (he does a lot of them) and did a Functional alignment. I had no post surgery pain, on day 21, my first week of pt, my pt measured my ROM at 122 and on day 27 I was on the golf course. His method was mini midvastus. I am also 80 years old.

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