Meniscus repair is a surgical procedure that repairs a torn meniscus via keyhole surgery
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The “meniscus” or “meniscii” (plural) are two C-shaped cartilage between your thigh and shinbone. They keep your knees stable and act as ‘shock absorbers’ for your knee. Excessive twisting is usually the cause of meniscus tears. That is why it is a common injury amongst athletes – especially those who play football, hockey, or basketball. However, you can also get this injury if you kneel, squat, or lift heavy objects repeatedly. A ‘pop’ sound associated with swelling is an usual indication of a meniscus tear. For some, they still retain movement even after injury and may not even realise that they suffered a meniscus tear until their knee swells up several hours later.
Treatment for a meniscus tear depends on its severity and configuration of tear. The doctor can usually determine this by using a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine.
A small undisplaced tear of the meniscus can potentially heal on its own, thus may just require anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. However if the tear is extensive and displaced, such that if it blocks the excursion of knee movement or inability to fully straighten or bend the knee, then surgery would be required to address the tear. Our doctors believe in preserving meniscus tissue and repairing meniscus tears as far as possible, as the meniscus serves an important function in distributing loading stresses across the knee joint.
The goal of meniscus repair is to restore stability and function to the knee so that it can regain a painless full range of motion.
Meniscus repair surgeries are minimally invasive and are performed under anaesthesia. The surgeon may perform any of the following procedures:
For a partial meniscectomy, recovery can take about a month. For a meniscus repair, it may take as long as 3 months.
You may have to wear a brace to keep your knee stable. You will likely also have to use crutches for several weeks to keep weight off your knee if meniscus repair was performed. This is to offload the repair site so that it can heal properly. The wound should also be kept clean and dry for two weeks so that it can heal properly and without infections.
Physical therapy is highly recommended as part of your recovery. This is because it will help increase your range of motion and strengthen the muscles around the knee. The doctor may even recommend a few exercises that you can do at home as well.
While all surgeries come with some risk, meniscus repair is considered a low-risk procedure. Common complications include:
Your doctor will thoroughly discuss the risks of the meniscus repair with you and outline the necessary precautions that they will take to minimise the chances of complications occurring.
Our doctors are trained and highly experienced in diagnosing and treating orthopaedic conditions of the knee. We aim to provide you with quality care by thoroughly assessing your condition and personalising your treatments to your needs and goals.