10/21/2026
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a video about the “Jiffy Knee” that ignited some debate among my colleagues. I wanted to clarify a few things:
I did not say it’s an inferior technique, that surgeons should stop using it, or that it leads to poor outcomes.
My point is that claiming superiority requires evidence. As I discussed in my video, some studies suggest short-term benefits of the subvastus approach compared with the traditional medial parapatellar approach. However, several responses emphasized that the Jiffy Knee is a different procedure. If that’s the argument, then claims of superiority need evidence evaluating that distinct procedure. I haven’t identified published, peer-reviewed clinical outcomes research specifically evaluating the branded Jiffy Knee procedure. If those studies exist, I’d welcome the opportunity to review them.
In medicine, we need to distinguish what the evidence supports from what we personally believe.
For example: fact—the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX. My opinion on the matter is that they were potentially one of the greatest football teams ever assembled. It may be an enthusiastic opinion, but again, enthusiasm isn’t evidence.
Orthopedic surgeons are a confident breed. We rarely suffer from a shortage of opinions about our knowledge, surgical skills, or preferred implants. Confidence, however, isn’t a substitute for comparative data.
Implant selection, navigation, postoperative bracing—many decisions involve a combination of evidence, clinical judgment, and patient preferences. We should explain what we know, what remains uncertain, and why we recommend a particular option. Agreement alone doesn’t make something a fact, and disagreement doesn’t make all opinions equally supported.
My approach? Educate patients about the benefits, risks, and alternatives. In other words, turn the patient into an informed consumer about their healthcare. Offer a recommendation grounded in the evidence and their individual needs. Then give them the autonomy to make an informed decision.
And if we’re going to claim that our way is better?
“Data, data, data.” 🔎
