Meniscus Surgery

When would I need meniscus surgery?

The meniscus, which is made of cartilage, is located between the leg bones in the knee joint. Like other types of cartilage in joints, the meniscus is essential for cushioning the knee and allowing smooth movement between the bones.

Meniscus tears frequently occur during athletic activities when you suddenly stop running or twist your knee. The cartilage also wears down over years of repetitive movement and stress, increasing your risk of tearing the cartilage during everyday movement.

Whether you need meniscus surgery depends on the extent of the injury and its location. The outer third of the meniscus has a blood supply (the red zone). Tears in this area may heal without surgery, but it depends on their severity.

The inner two-thirds of the meniscus does not have a blood supply (the white zone). Without blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients, the meniscus can’t heal.

When you have a severe injury anywhere in the meniscus, or a mild to severe injury in the white zone, you may need meniscus surgery.

What symptoms indicate I might need meniscus surgery?

After injuring the meniscus, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Knee pain
• Stiffness and swelling
• Locking or catching in the knee
• Sensation that your knee may give way
• Limited range of motion

Immediately after a meniscus injury, you may still be able to walk or keep playing sports. However, the knee becomes swollen and stiffer over the next few days.

What type of meniscus repair might I need?

If your Restoration Orthopedics specialist determines that you don’t need immediate surgery, they will create a customized treatment plan that may include rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications.

Your provider may inject corticosteroids into the joint to reduce inflammation. Or, they may recommend a platelet-rich plasma and/or stem cell injection to help the meniscus heal.

If your symptoms don’t improve, or your meniscus injury needs surgery before conservative care, your Restoration Orthopedics specialist may recommend arthroscopic surgery to perform one of the following:

Partial meniscectomy

During this procedure, your surgeon trims and removes the damaged meniscus, easing pain and restoring mobility.

Meniscus repair

If the tear is in the red zone, your surgeon may repair it and restore stability by stitching the torn tissues together. They may also repair some injuries in the white zone, but more often treat white-zone tears with a partial meniscectomy.

Meniscus transplant

Your surgeon replaces the damaged meniscus with a donor meniscus trimmed to fit your knee.

Call Restoration Orthopedics today or book an appointment online to learn about meniscus surgery.