Meniscus Repair And Treatment

By Author: Mark Semple
Total Articles: 10
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The meniscus is cartilage that stabilizes and cushions the knee joint. A meniscus tear is a common injury to the knee, and the pattern of the tear can determine whether the tear is repairable. Radial tears can sometimes be repaired, depending on where the tear is located. Horizontal, flap, long-standing, and degenerative tears that are caused by wear and tear over a long duration often can’t be repaired.

A doctor will usually recommend a treatment that will work best for a patient based on location of the tear, pattern of the tear, and its size. Age, health, and typical activity level can also affect treatment options. Each case is different, but when trying to decide if surgery is right for a patient, it is best to consider when it makes sense to do it and when it doesn’t.

For small tears at the outer edge of the meniscus, home treatment often works the best as these tears can heal with adequate rest, ice, compression, elevation, and physical therapy. For moderate to large tears at the outer edge of the meniscus, surgery is a good choice, and these kinds of tears usually heal well after surgery. For tears ...
... that spread from the edge into the inner two-thirds of the meniscus, the decision is more difficult since surgery for these kinds of tears doesn’t always work. For tears in the middle of the meniscus, surgery usually isn't done because the meniscus may not heal.

If surgical meniscus repair is called for, any procedure is best performed as quickly as possible after the initial injury. In surgical repair, a small incision is made and the knee is opened so the surgeon can see inside the knee. More and more surgeons are using arthroscopic surgery for meniscus repairs. The surgeon inserts an arthroscope with a camera and a light through small incisions near the knee and is able to see inside the knee without making a large incision. Surgical instruments are inserted through other small incisions. The surgeon uses sutures or anchors to secure the repair work.

The surgeon will likely recommend immobilization of the knee for up to two weeks after surgery. This is followed by two weeks of limited motion before resuming daily activities. Physical therapy will begin right after surgery, but heavy stresses like running and squats may be postponed for some months. Risks from surgery itself are uncommon but occasionally include: infection, damage to nerves or blood vessels around the knee, blood clots in the leg, and anesthesia complications.

Surgical repair may result in less pain and a return to normal knee function. It is possible to prevent long-term complications like osteoarthritis with successful surgical repair of the tear. Although no long-term studies have so far proven it, successful meniscus repair may save the meniscal cartilage and reduce stress on the knee joint, thereby lowering the risk of osteoarthritis.

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