Meniscus repair surgery

The meniscus is a type of cartilage in the knee that forms a shock absorber between the knee bones. When the meniscus is torn or damaged, it can be difficult to heal on its own, causing knee pain, instability, and limited flexibility in the knee joint. Surgery can preserve the meniscus by repairing or removing the torn part to restore your range of motion and lessen the pain in your knee. It’s often performed using an arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure using small incisions that result in less pain from surgery and faster recovery times.

Whether your meniscus tear results from an injury or long-term wear and tear, Penn Medicine can help. Through the Cartilage Center at Penn, our surgeons are specially trained and highly experienced in knee pain and meniscus repair procedures, with a national reputation for excellence in knee surgery. We provide innovative treatments grounded in the latest research, clinical trials, and advanced imaging and surgical techniques. Our treatment recommendations are detailed, individualized to each patient, and delivered with compassionate care.

Not all meniscus injuries require surgery. You’ll meet with an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in knee surgery to determine the next best steps for you. They’ll perform a physical exam, paying special attention to how you move and walk. They’ll ask about your symptoms, which may include pain that increases when you put pressure on the joint, stiffness, and swelling, and the feeling that your knee is giving way, locking, or catching when you bend it. They’ll also review imaging reports like x-rays or MRIs and assess your overall health.

Your doctor may recommend conservative treatment first, like physical therapy, rest, icing, or pain management, to see if your symptoms can resolve. If your knee pain, instability, and limited range of motion continue to impact your daily activities, you may be a good candidate for meniscus tear surgery.

Your surgeon will discuss your surgical options based on the extent of your meniscus damage, the size and location of the affected tissues, your age, and your activity level. Your lifestyle goals and overall health will also help determine whether meniscus tear surgery is right for you. Typical reasons for meniscus repair surgery include:

• Your activity levels are limited, and you wish to stay active.
• You’re able to participate fully in rehabilitation therapy after surgery to regain full strength and mobility.
• Your meniscus surgery can help prevent long-term complications like osteoarthritis, which could lead to knee replacement surgery.
• Your meniscus tear can be treated successfully with surgery.

Meniscus tear surgery usually takes about an hour or so, depending on the type of surgery. The steps for each type of surgery can vary. Talk with your surgeon about what to expect in your case.

Generally, most people will share these common experiences:

• You’ll have preoperative tests, such as blood tests and imaging tests, to be sure you are healthy enough for surgery. Your doctor will advise you on the medications, food, and drink to use before surgery. It’s also important that you arrange for someone to pick you up and be with you at home for the first few days after surgery since you’ll have limited mobility.
• You’ll receive some form of anesthesia—general or regional—to keep you comfortable and pain-free during the procedure.
• In most cases, the surgeon will use an arthroscopic procedure. They’ll make a few small incisions in the knee and insert an arthroscope (a thin flexible tube) to visualize and examine the knee joint. They’ll place instruments inside the knee to repair the torn cartilage or trim the damaged part. In some cases, the entire meniscus may be removed (a meniscectomy) and replaced with tissue from a healthy part of your body or from a donor.
• Your incisions will be closed with stitches that may be placed inside or outside the knee.
• You’ll be moved to a recovery area for monitoring and typically can go home the same day. You’ll receive home-care instructions from your orthopaedic team to assist with your healing.

The timeline for meniscus surgery recovery varies from several weeks to many months depending on the extent of your meniscus surgery. Many people experience these steps in their torn meniscus recovery:

• It’s common to experience some pain for a few weeks after surgery. Your doctor will prescribe pain medications and over-the-counter drugs to manage your pain and will create a plan to wean off any prescription medications as soon as possible.
• Early on, you’ll need to use crutches and wear a knee brace to keep your joint in the best position for healing.
• Your surgeon will clear you for physical therapy as soon as you are able. You’ll probably have multiple therapy sessions a week to start. Be sure to follow your therapist’s instructions. They’ll work with you to regain your full range of motion to bend your knee or straighten your leg completely. They’ll also help you progress slowly and safely to weight-bearing activities, starting with light walking and moving to more intense physical activities.

In time, you’ll progress through your physical therapy milestones to return to your regular daily activities. Most people find that they can return to sports or other more intense physical activities that they enjoyed before surgery.

While all surgeries carry some risks, meniscus repair surgery generally has few risks. They may include:

• Infection
• Damage to nerves or blood vessels around the knee
• Blood clots in the leg
• Bleeding
• Stiffness

Penn Medicine offers the most advanced meniscus repair and restoration options available in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions. Our orthopaedic team is highly experienced in cartilage repair and meniscal transplantation and works with you to choose the most effective treatment plan to relieve your symptoms and regain strength and mobility. We offer a variety of meniscus tear treatments, including leading-edge procedures, like autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), so you have access to the care that’s best for you.

At Penn Medicine, you can expect:

• Experts in ACI surgery: We are ranked nationally for our high volume of ACI surgeries, a cartilage transplantation method that repairs meniscus damage using your own cartilage cells. This extensive experience helps us deliver the most successful outcomes to our patients.
• A commitment to advanced technology: Our surgeons work with Penn Medicine researchers to develop new technology that makes meniscus treatment and cartilage repair safer and more widely available for use. We take advantage of using the latest tools and methods as soon as they are proven to offer successful outcomes.
• A whole-body approach: Our orthopaedic team includes specialists in meniscus surgery, sports medicine, radiology, and rehabilitation therapy. Together they create a treatment approach that considers your type of meniscus tear and lifestyle goals to help you regain mobility and flexibility and reduce pain.
• Wide-ranging knee surgery care: At Penn Medicine, you have easy access to other orthopaedic knee specialists, if needed, including those who specialize in knee tendon and ligament repair or knee replacement surgery. Our goal is to provide you with a one-stop approach to orthopaedic knee care.