Knee arthroscopy is the commonly recommended surgical procedure for meniscal tears. The surgical treatment options include meniscus removal or partial removal (meniscectomy), meniscus repair, and meniscus replacement (rare).
If you sit at work, you may be able to go back in 1 to 2 weeks. But if you are on your feet at work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks. If you are very physically active in your job, it may take 3 to 6 months.
If a meniscus tear is considered appropriate for an attempt at repair, a number of techniques can be used. The surgery is primarily arthroscopic (minimally invasive) although additional small incisions, or cuts, may be necessary to perform the repair. A variety of devices or sutures can be used to perform a repair.
For most people who have a symptomatic meniscus tear, arthroscopic surgery is selected to remove or repair the torn tissue. However, if you have arthritis, you may benefit from injection and physical therapy without surgery. Arthroscopy has revolutionized how knee surgery is performed.
Arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus (meniscectomy)
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. Crutches will be necessary for 2-7 days after surgery.
Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not. Surgery to repair tears may reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.
Arthroscopic meniscus repair is moderately painful. Because more soft tissue surgery is performed, it is more painful than a standard arthroscopy, but less painful than a ligament reconstruction or another procedure that requires drilling holes through the bone.
Arthroscopic meniscus repair typically takes about 40 minutes to perform, and usually you will be able to leave the hospital the same day. There are three main types of meniscus repairs. Your surgeon chooses a technique based on the location of the tear and his or her experience with the techniques.
A study of patients with osteoarthritis who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy showed that the risk of total knee replacement was 400% greater than those who received non-surgical therapies.
What type of meniscus tear is the worst? Bucket-handle meniscus tears are the most serious type of meniscus injury. They often occur alongside a ligament injury. Bucket-handle tears require prompt surgery in order to have the best possible chance of recovery.
Continuing to walk on the affected leg can aggravate your symptoms, making pain and stiffness worse in as little as a few days. Plus, suffering a torn meniscus may also increase your risk of complications, like developing osteoarthritis in that knee.
Risks of an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy include bleeding and infection, but also includes an increased risk of osteoarthritis. With 20-30% of the population between 50 and 60 showing signs of meniscus tear in the absence of symptoms, it is important that the appropriate treatment be recommended.
Most people are able to start driving 1-2 weeks after surgery, but use your judgment as to when you feel ready and safe to drive. Crutches are required following surgery. You should not put weight on the surgical leg until otherwise instructed by physical therapy or your physician.
You can walk up and down stairs. Just remember to hold onto the hand rail. You do not need crutches when walking (unless your surgeon has told you to use them). If your surgeon has told you to use crutches, follow your surgeon's instructions.
You will probably need about 6 weeks to recover. If your doctor repaired damaged tissue, recovery will take longer. You may have to limit your activity until your knee strength and movement are back to normal.
Your knee will be swollen. And you may have numbness around the cuts the doctor made (incisions) on your knee. You can put ice on the knee to reduce swelling. Most of this will go away in a few days.
Operative management. Currently, there are three main methods for the surgical management of meniscus tears: meniscectomy, meniscal repair, and meniscal reconstruction.
An untreated meniscus tear can result in the frayed edge getting caught in the joint, causing pain and swelling. It can also result in long term knee problems such as arthritis and other soft tissue damage.
Pain in the knee joint. Swelling. Catching or locking of the knee joint. Inability to fully extend or bend the knee joint.
Symptoms of a meniscus tear may be different for each person, but some of the most common symptoms are: Pain in the knee joint: usually on the inside (medial), outside (lateral) or back of the knee. Swelling. Catching or locking of the knee joint.
Can you be awake during meniscus surgery? Dr Don Wallace explains that while it is possible to have meniscus surgery under local anaesthetic, it is more common to be put under a general anaesthetic.
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.
For instance, if the meniscus tear is mild, which would be a Grade 1 or 2, you will most likely not need surgery. However, if your injury is more severe at a Grade 3 rating, then your doctor might discuss your surgery options.
In most patients, meniscus tear repair is preferred over meniscus removal. That's because studies have shown when the meniscus is repaired and preserved, patients tend to experience better overall healing and better long-term joint function.