Meniscus Surgery

What Is Meniscus Surgery? Key Facts You Should Know

Meniscus injuries are a common type of knee problem often observed in young patients or athletes, or by degeneration in older adults. These injuries can occur when the knee sustains repeated stress, sudden rotation, or twisting while the foot remains planted on the ground.

When the meniscus tears, patients typically experience pain, swelling, a popping sensation, and limited knee mobility. In milder cases, a meniscus tear can heal with conservative treatments. However, if the pain persists and disrupts everyday activities, surgery should be considered.

Anatomy

The meniscus is a crescent-shaped piece of cartilage located between the ends of the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia) in the knee joint. It functions as a shock absorber and facilitates joint stability by distributing the body's weight evenly across the knee. Each knee has two main menisci—one on the inner edge of the knee joint (medial meniscus) and the other on the outer edge (lateral meniscus).

What Is Meniscus Surgery?

Meniscus tear surgery involves repairing or removing damaged portions of the meniscus. This treatment is typically done for individuals with severely torn meniscus or when nonsurgical measures like medications and physiotherapy fail to manage symptoms. Meniscus surgery aims to improve knee stability and prevent further joint damage.

What Are the Types of Meniscus Surgery?

Several techniques can be used to address a meniscus tear, depending on the location, size, and severity of the joint damage. These include:

• Knee Arthroscopy The surgeon makes small incisions and inserts a specialised camera (arthroscope) and surgical instruments into the knee joint. This provides a clear view of the meniscus, allowing the surgeon to confirm the diagnosis, repair the tear or trim the damaged tissue.
• Meniscus Repair In this procedure, the surgeon reconnects the torn edges of the meniscus using sutures or anchors. Meniscus repair is suitable for younger patients or those with tears located in the outer section of the meniscus, where the blood supply is better.
• Meniscectomy Also known as meniscal debridement, this procedure can be performed in two ways. In a partial meniscectomy, the surgeon trims only the torn portion, preserving the healthy meniscus. If the meniscus is severely damaged and beyond repair, the surgeon may perform a total meniscectomy, removing the entire structure.
• Meniscus Transplantation For individuals with significant meniscus tissue loss due to previous surgery or injury, the damaged meniscus can be replaced with donor tissue. Transplantation is done to restore proper function of the meniscus in the knee joint.

How Do You Prepare for Meniscus Surgery?

During the initial consultation, the knee surgeon will discuss the patient's medical history and conduct physical examinations to assess their range of motion and overall suitability for the operation. MRI scans and X-rays may be performed to evaluate the extent of the injury and eliminate other possible causes of knee pain. If these tests fail to determine the cause of knee pain, a knee arthroscopy may be performed.

The patient may also begin physiotherapy before surgery to prepare for recovery. The physiotherapist will assess the patient's condition, including pain, activity levels, and knee strength. The patient will also learn how to use crutches or a walker and begin exercises to aid their post-surgery recovery.

Other preoperative instructions may also be given, such as fasting for 12 hours before the day of surgery and arranging for post-surgery support, as patients may experience limited mobility immediately following the procedure.

What Happens During a Meniscus Surgery?

The procedure begins by administering anaesthesia to ensure the patient's comfort during the operation. Once the patient is sedated, the surgeon creates small keyhole incisions around the knee joint to insert the arthroscopic camera and surgical instruments. Specialised surgical instruments are then inserted through other incisions to perform the necessary procedures on the meniscus. Once the procedure is complete, the surgical instruments and arthroscope are removed, and the incisions are closed with stitches or surgical tape.

What Happens After Meniscus Surgery?

Immediately after the surgery, patients are taken to a recovery area to monitor any complications or adverse reactions to anaesthesia. A protective brace will be applied to the knee to ensure stability.

Patients can expect some pain and swelling within a few days following the procedure. To manage these side effects, doctors may prescribe medications and provide other instructions, such as applying ice packs and keeping the legs elevated. Patients may also be advised to use crutches for at least a month to minimise weight-bearing on the affected knee.

Once patients are discharged, they will receive personalised guidance regarding mobility, weight-bearing activities, and rehabilitation programmes. Physiotherapy is often recommended to gradually restore the range of motion, strength, and movement control of the knee.

What Are the Possible Complications of Meniscus Surgery?

Meniscus surgery is generally safe and effective. However, as with other types of surgery, this knee treatment has potential complications, including:

• Infection
• Joint stiffness
• Nerve damage
• Bleeding or blood clot formation
• Re-tearing or meniscus repair failure

FAQs About Meniscus Surgery

Are there any alternatives to meniscus surgery in treating meniscus injuries?

 

For mild meniscus tears, conservative measures are often recommended first. These include RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), NSAIDs, physiotherapy, and corticosteroid injections. Severe or complex meniscus tears typically require surgical procedures for proper healing.

How long does meniscus surgery last?

Meniscus surgery takes about 30–60 minutes to complete and most patients can return home on the same day of the procedure after the anaesthetic has worn off.

How long before you fully recover from meniscus surgery?

The timeline for full recovery depends on the type of surgery performed. This can range from 4 weeks to 12 months or longer.

If I have a meniscus tear, what happens if I don’t undergo meniscus surgery?

If a meniscus tear is left untreated, it can lead to chronic pain, swelling, and a decline in knee function over time. In more severe cases, untreated tears can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis due to the loss of cushioning and stability in the knee joint.