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How are muscle dilation and recovery time from surgery related?

By Anne Asher, About.com

Updated March 24, 2005

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Question: How are muscle dilation and recovery time from surgery related?
Answer:

In traditional open surgery, muscles and other tissues are cut to allow access to the operative area. The amount of post-operative pain and the speed of recovery from surgery is often based on:

  • how much muscle was cut
  • if any organs had to be moved during the procedure.

In muscle dilation, the surgeon will make very small incisions between muscle fibers in order to access the patient's injury site. The muscle is not cut at all. Therefore, the patient does not have to heal injured muscles or other soft tissue.

The patient will also feel less post-operative pain from manipulation and movement of organs and other anatomical structures.

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