Meniscus Operation

Meniscus surgery is a common procedure that treats torn cartilage inside your knee. Whether the surgeon repairs the tear with stitches or removes the damaged portion, the operation aims to reduce pain, improve stability, and help you return to your daily activities.

Table of contents

• What is meniscus surgery?
• When is meniscus surgery needed?
• Types of meniscus surgery
• Preparing for surgery
• What happens during the operation
• Recovery and outlook
• Risks and complications

What is meniscus surgery?

Meniscus surgery is an operation to treat a torn meniscus, which is damage to the cartilage inside your knee. The meniscus is a C-shaped disc of soft tissue that connects your thighbone to your shinbone. Each knee has two menisci—one on the inner side and one on the outer side. They act like shock absorbers for your bones and help keep your knee stable^[1][5].

An orthopedic surgeon (a doctor who specializes in bones and joints) will either repair the damaged meniscus or remove the torn portion^[1]. The goal of meniscus surgery is to restore the natural function and stability of your knee so you can get back to your usual activities^[1].

When is meniscus surgery needed?

Not all meniscus tears require surgery. The need for an operation depends on many factors, including the location, size, and type of tear. Your age, activity level, and whether you have symptoms like pain or your knee locking also play a role^[2][5].

Your doctor may recommend meniscus surgery if you have a serious tear or if nonsurgical treatments—such as rest, ice, physical therapy, or medication—haven’t managed your symptoms^[1][5].

Many people with a torn meniscus choose surgery because the injured cartilage can make their knee unstable, causing it to buckle or give way. The tear can also cause pain and swelling, or make the knee “lock up” or feel stuck^[1]. Large tears that create clicking, catching, or locking are the most likely to benefit from surgery^[2].

Types of meniscus surgery

There are three main types of meniscus surgery. The choice depends on the location and severity of the tear, as well as your age and goals^[1][2].

Meniscus repair

A meniscus repair is just what it sounds like—your surgeon will repair the tear and any other damage in your meniscus. They will stitch (suture) the torn edges together so your meniscus heals back into one piece. Your body will absorb the sutures as the tear heals^[1].

Not all areas of the meniscus receive the blood flow needed for healing after a repair. The outer edge of the meniscus is called the “red zone” because it receives blood flow, but this only makes up about 25% of the meniscus. Tears in the red zone have a chance to heal following a repair^[2].

The other 75% of the meniscus is called the “white zone” because it does not receive blood flow. A repair surgery to a tear in this area is more likely to fail, so a different approach is often used for these tears^[2].

Partial meniscectomy

A partial meniscectomy means removing the damaged part of your meniscus. Your surgeon will trim the torn cartilage away from your meniscus and leave healthy tissue in place^[1]. This type of surgery is also called “trimming” or “debridement”^[2].

Meniscectomy is a good option for more severe tears. Higher-grade meniscus tears are usually too severe to heal back together completely, even with a repair^[1].

Meniscus replacement

Meniscus replacement (meniscus transplantation) is much less common than the other two types. It is usually only a good option for people younger than 50 who have knee arthritis or a severely torn meniscus. Your surgeon will replace your meniscus with an allograft, which is a meniscus from a human donor^[1].

Preparing for surgery

Before your meniscus surgery, you will need some or all of the following tests: a physical exam, blood tests, an EKG (a test that measures the electrical activity of your heart), chest X-ray, knee X-ray, and an MRI (a scan that creates detailed images of your knee)^[1].

Tell your doctor and surgeon what medications and over-the-counter or herbal supplements you take. You may have to stop taking some of them before your surgery^[1].

Your surgeon will tell you when you should fast—stop eating and drinking—the day before your surgery. Most people need to fast for 12 hours before the operation^[1].

Plan to arrange transportation to and from your surgery. You will not be able to drive yourself home after surgery, so make sure someone is available to pick you up^[1].

What happens during the operation

On the day of your surgery, an anesthesiologist (a doctor who specializes in pain management during surgery) will give you anesthesia to numb your body and make sure you do not feel pain during the procedure. They will give you either general anesthesia that puts you to sleep or regional anesthesia that numbs you from the waist down. If you need regional anesthesia, your anesthesiologist will also give you a sedative to relax you^[1].

Meniscus surgery is usually done with a minimally invasive knee arthroscopy. Your surgeon will make a few small cuts (incisions) in the skin around your knee. They will insert tiny tools and a small camera into your knee joint to treat the meniscus tear^[1].

Meniscus surgery usually takes around an hour. It might take a little more or less time depending on which type of surgery you need, the severity of the tear, and if you have any other injuries (like knee ligament tears) that need treatment too^[1].

Meniscus surgery is usually an outpatient procedure. That means you can go home the same day^[1].

Recovery and outlook

Your knee will be swollen after surgery, and you will feel tired for several days. You may have numbness around the incisions on your knee. You can put ice on the knee to reduce swelling. Most of this will go away in a few days, and you should soon start seeing improvement in your knee^[7].

Recovery time depends on which type of surgery you had. If you had a partial meniscectomy, you might be able to play sports in about 4 to 6 weeks. If you had meniscus repair, it may be 3 to 6 months before you can play sports^[7].

You will need to build your strength and the motion of your joint with rehabilitation (rehab) exercises. Physical therapy will help strengthen the muscles around your knee and keep it stable^[1][5]. Your physical therapy can last from four weeks to more than 8 weeks, depending on the severity of your tear^[5].

You may be able to return to most of your regular activities within a few weeks. However, it will be several months before you have complete use of your knee. It may take as long as 6 months before your knee is strong enough for hard physical work or certain sports^[7].

When you shower, keep your bandage and incisions dry by taping a sheet of plastic to cover them. If you have a brace, take it off if your doctor says it is okay. Do not put weight on your leg until your doctor says you can^[7].

You can drive when you are no longer using crutches or a knee brace, are no longer taking prescription pain medicine, and have some control over your knee. This usually takes 1 to 6 weeks^[7].

Risks and complications

As with any surgery, meniscus operations carry some risks. Your doctor will discuss these with you before the procedure. Understanding both the benefits and potential complications helps you make an informed decision about your treatment^[2].

After a partial meniscectomy, there is an increased risk of knee arthritis and the eventual need for total knee replacement in the future. This is because removing part of the meniscus reduces its ability to absorb shock and protect the cartilage in your knee^[5].