Meniscus Repair & Resection

What is Meniscus Repair & Resection?

The menisci are two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as a cushion between the thigh (femur) and shin bones. When the meniscus is torn it can cause pain within the knee as well as a feeling of “locking” of the knee. Meniscus repair or resection is arthroscopic procedures that treat a torn meniscus and relieve painful symptoms. 

At OrthoNeuro, our Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeons have helped thousands of patients return to an active and healthy lifestyle after arthroscopic meniscus surgery.

How Meniscus Surgery is Performed

Depending upon the location and severity of the meniscus tear, as well as your unique lifestyle, your OrthoNeuro surgeon may recommend  a meniscus resection or repair. Both procedures use an arthroscopic approach and are performed on an outpatient basis. 

During the procedure: 

• Two or three tiny incisions are made around the patella (knee cap) 
• An arthroscopic camera is placed through an incision and guided into the joint to allow the surgeon to view the tear. 

Once the meniscus is viewed, one of two procedures can be used:

Meniscus resection (partial meniscectomy). The torn pieces of the meniscus are trimmed and the remaining meniscus is smoothed so that it no longer causes painful symptoms. Average recovery time for a partial meniscectomy is 3-4 weeks.

Meniscus repair. In some instances, the meniscus can be reconstructed using small sutures. Once the meniscus is repaired, small anchors are used to reattach it to its intended position within the knee. 

The knee is placed in a comfortable knee immobilizer after the procedure.  You will be non-weight bearing on crutches for 6 weeks to allow the meniscus to heal. 

Recovery time following a meniscal repair is about 3 months.