MENISCUS TEAR

Tears of the meniscus, a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee, are a common knee injury. Each knee has two menisci (plural of meniscus), one at the outer edge of the knee and one at the inner edge. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, you’ll often be able to return to your pre-injury abilities.

What are the surgical treatment options for a torn meniscus?

If nonsurgical treatments are not successful, your doctor may recommend knee arthroscopy. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive operation in which the surgeon examines the joint with an arthroscope, a pencil-thin device equipped with a camera lens and light, and trim out or repair tears in the meniscus through a small incision. Decision to repair or trim out tears is based on the type of tear, location of the tear, quality of the tissue, and patient factors. Some repair techniques require another incision to aid in the repair.

After surgery, your doctor may put your knee in a brace to keep it from moving while healing.