Torn meniscus: Is it worth having meniscus surgery? Meniscus tears are among the most common orthopedic injuries. Meniscus surgery can reduce knee pain, help you feel more stable, improve comfort as you walk and stand, and return to activities you enjoy.
But most horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed. For these kinds of tears, you may need to have part or all of the meniscus removed. You may want to have surgery if your knee pain is too great or if you are unable to do daily activities.
If not treated, part of the meniscus may come loose and slip into the joint. You may need surgery to restore full knee function. Untreated meniscus tears can increase in size and lead to complications, such as arthritis.
What is the Success Rate of Meniscus Repair? In general, meniscus repair surgery has a high success rate from around 84% to 94%. Success rates tend to decrease if the patient experienced an injury which decreases knee stability, such as an ACL tear.
It may take as long as 6 months before your knee is strong enough for hard physical work or certain sports. You will need to build your strength and the motion of your joint with rehabilitation (rehab) exercises. In time, your knee will likely be stronger and more stable than it was before the surgery.
How long after meniscus surgery will I be able to walk, exercise and work? Most people can walk with crutches soon after meniscus surgery. Many return to normal activities within six to eight weeks.
Knee pain, osteoarthritis, re-injury, inadequate rehabilitation, and spontaneous osteonecrosis are potential long-term problems after meniscus surgery. Talk with your healthcare provider about treatments to help you find relief if you're experiencing pain or other post-surgery problems.
Like many orthopedic disorders, a meniscus tear generally responds well to physical therapy. In fact, conservative methods are the preferred treatment before surgery is considered.
An uncomplicated meniscectomy will resolve most of the pain fairly quickly, but swelling and stiffness take time to resolve. It may take 4-5 months for full healing. The patient should be able to bear weight on the knee while standing or walking, immediately after surgery.
Because it is ideal to keep and preserve the entire meniscus, a meniscus tear repair is preferable when possible. For children, teens, and patients in their early twenties, the meniscus may have enough blood supply to heal.
Symptoms may go away but can come back from overuse or when you do activities that involve twisting. The pain may come and go over a period of years if the tear isn't treated. Larger tears usually cause more pain and immediate swelling and stiffness. Pieces of the torn meniscus can float into the joint space.
“You can live with a meniscus tear,” Dr. Parker says. “And it may heal on its own, or just not cause you problems.” However, you'll know pretty quickly when it is a problem.
The injury won't heal on its own, which means it may continue getting worse without proper care. For example, a partial tear may continue to worsen until it's a complete tear. Continuing to walk on the affected leg can aggravate your symptoms, making pain and stiffness worse in as little as a few days.
If your doctor's exam shows your meniscus tear is mild (Grade 1 or 2), you may not need surgery. If it's Grade 3, you probably will. Your doctor might choose to do any of the following: Arthroscopic repair.
If you have surgery to remove all or part of your meniscus, you may be at higher risk of developing arthritis down the road. That's because you now have less shock absorption in your joint. Over time, the joint can break down.
We observed a significant association between surgical delay beyond 6 months and damage to medial meniscus.
Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain, especially any activity that causes you to twist, rotate or pivot your knee. If your pain is severe, using crutches can take pressure off your knee and promote healing.
Meniscus (cartilage) Repair patients cannot do twisting, pivoting, squatting, deep knee bends or impact activities for four months. It is vital that meniscus repair patients do not squat for at least four months after the repair.
Immediately after surgery you will learn to climb stairs safely using crutches. As recovery continues and you work on flexion and extension of the new knee, you will be able to climb without crutches. With the help of physical therapy and building up the quadriceps muscles, stair climbing will be a breeze.
You will recover more quickly if you carefully follow all your doctor's instructions. In your first days after surgery, you will need apply ice frequently and elevate your knee above your heart to help relieve swelling. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, to help your body heal.
Walking up or down stairs may be particularly painful, and may also cause increased swelling in the knee.
Most people can get back to desk work, school or sedentary activity 3 to 5 days after surgery. If your right knee was operated on, it may be up to 2 weeks before the knee is strong enough to hit the brakes to drive safely. For heavy work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks before the leg is strong enough to allow for working.
Stem-Cell Therapy
Researchers have been developing stem-cell therapies that may help heal the injured tissue. During treatment, stem cells from your own body or some other source are injected into the injured knee area, where they grow, differentiate and assist with the healing of the meniscus.
It is possible to treat some meniscus tears without surgery, and some may even heal on their own. Tears on the outer one-third of your meniscus can heal independently because this area has a rich blood supply, and blood cells can regenerate the meniscus tissue.