Meniscus surgery is a common orthopedic surgery involving the removal or
repair of a torn meniscus, a piece of cartilage in the knee. The goal
of meniscus surgery is to preserve healthy meniscus tissue, but depending
on the severity and location of the tear, your knee surgeon will make
the best recommendation for your specific condition.
Meniscus Tear
The meniscus is a C-shaped disc of cartilage that connects the thighbone
(femur) to the shinbone (tibia). They act as shock absorbers and give
stability to the knee. Athletes who participate in sports with sudden
and forceful twists, turns or collisions are particularly susceptible to
meniscus tears, but so are those who have physically demanding jobs that involve lots
of kneeling, deep squatting, or heavy lifting. In older adults, degenerative
changes of the knee can contribute to a torn meniscus with little or no
trauma due to the menisci gradually weakening over time.
Treatment Options for a Torn Meniscus
Initial treatment for a torn meniscus often begins conservatively except
in severe, traumatic injuries to the meniscus. Your knee surgeon will
conduct a physical examination and will likely order imaging such as X-rays
and an MRI to help formulate the best treatment plan. Whether your torn
meniscus will require surgery or not will greatly depend on the following:
Presence of symptoms (pain, swelling, locking, buckling, etc.)
Nonsurgical treatments for a torn meniscus may include:
R.I.C.E. Method: Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen or aspirin to control swelling
Corticosteroid/cortisone injections into the knee to reduce the swelling
Physical therapy to restore range of motion and strengthen the knee.
Surgical Meniscus Tear Treatment
Meniscus tears can be treated by meniscus removal (meniscectomy), meniscus
repair, or in unusual cases, meniscus replacement. The goal of meniscus
surgery is to preserve healthy meniscus tissue; however, the meniscus
requires blood supply to heal and only the outer third portion of the
meniscus has blood supply to enable the healing process to occur. Therefore,
meniscus repairs are generally limited to this peripheral region of the
meniscus. Your specific meniscus repair surgery depends on the location
of the injury, tear pattern, and healing potential of the tear.
Meniscus repair is performed by sewing the severed meniscus together using high-strength
sutures or special implants. Most meniscus repairs are performed through
a minimally invasive arthroscopic technique. If your meniscus tear pattern
is located near neurovascular structures or the procedure requires reattachment
to bone, a combination approach of traditional and arthroscopic procedures is used.
Partial Meniscectomy is the removal of only the torn segment of the meniscus. This procedure
is done arthroscopically and typically has good short- and long-term results,
as long as the meniscus tear is relatively small in size.
Meniscectomy involves the removal of the entire damaged meniscus tissue. This procedure
has good short-term results but can lead to the development of knee arthritis
ten to twenty years later due to a loss of cushioning and the diminished
stability of the knee joint that occurs after a meniscus is removed.
Meniscus replacement is generally reserved for younger, active patients who have previously
had most of their meniscus removed and developed pain in the area without
having advanced degenerative changes to the articular (gliding surface)
cartilage. A meniscus replacement or transplant involves replacement of
the damaged cartilage with a meniscus from a cadaver (deceased donor).
Trust the Knee Surgeons at Newport Orthopedic Institute
Our board-certified, fellowship-trained Orange County knee surgeons are
skilled at treating meniscus tears. You will receive a custom treatment
plan to help you get back to doing the things you love doing.
Do you have a meniscus tear?
Call Newport Orthopedic Institute at (949) 722-7038.
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