Meniscal Repair

Overview of Meniscal Repair

The meniscus is an essential component of the knee joint that provides cushioning and stability. Unfortunately, trauma or degenerative diseases, especially in people with sports injuries are prone to meniscus tears, resulting in pain, swelling, and instability. If a patient experiences a meniscal tear, it may require surgical repair to relieve the pain and restore knee functionality.

Meniscal repair is a technically challenging procedure that must be performed carefully to ensure successful healing. Patients should be aware that the repair may take up to 12 weeks to heal, and complete recovery may take months. Rehabilitation is a necessary part of the meniscal repair, as it helps to restore strength and stability to the knee. It is also important to note that there are risks associated with the surgery and the recovery process and that the success of the repair depends on various factors.

Let’s understand meniscal repair, including the types of meniscal tears, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Types of Meniscal Tears

The Meniscal tears can be classified into four common types:

Radial tears: Radial tears are a common musculoskeletal injury a result of an injury to the annular ligament, a band of tissue that connects the radial head of the humerus to the ulna.

Horizontal tears: Horizontal tears, also known as split ends, are a relatively common but often overlooked injury caused by overexertion or repetitive stress.

Bucket Handle tears: Bucket handle tears are a type of medial meniscus tear involving the knee joint cartilage of twisting or pivoting. These tears are often caused by sudden and sharp movements.

Flap tears: Flap tears, also known as avulsion tears or avulsion fractures, are a type of injury that involves the detachment of a fragment of bone or soft tissue from its normal anatomic location.

Symptoms of a Meniscal Tears

The symptoms of a meniscal tear include:

A pain can be pivoting or twisting in the knee

Swelling, inflammation & stiffness

A catching or clinging of the knee joint while walking

Limited mobility and range of motion

Difficulty in straightening the knee

Treatment

A torn meniscus is painful and needs repair. Some meniscus tears may alleviate over time with the utilization of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE) techniques.
Surgery is often the best result for larger or more complex meniscal tears, or if there are no signs of improvement with the nonsurgical treatment option.

Meniscal repair surgery

The meniscus is a small but important crescent-shaped cartilage structure in the human knee. It provides a cushion between the head of the thighbone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia) and acts as a shock absorber, aiding in the stability and mobility of the knee joint.

Knee Arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures for meniscal repair. During the procedure, a surgeon makes small incisions and inserts an arthroscope, which allows them to view the knee joint on a monitor. They can then repair or remove any damaged parts of the meniscus. This minimally invasive procedure offers many advantages over traditional open surgeries, including shorter recovery time and reduced risk of complications.

Meniscal Repair for Torn Edges

In meniscal repair, the torn edges of the meniscus are repaired by suturing (stitching) by administering anaesthesia.

Meniscal Repair Recovery

The exact nature of recovery time for a meniscal repair depends on the individual and the extent of their injury. But the main goal of rehabilitation process is always the same: to restore movement, range of motion, and strength to the knee. It may take up few months for the knees to get fully heal.

Get an appointment at VNC Orthopaedic Clinic to consult an experienced and board-certified specialist.