Do you have a significant meniscal tear or have ongoing symptoms despite conservative management, at Glasgow Knee Surgery Clinic we perform all types of meniscal surgery.
A meniscus tear can be treated conservatively or with surgery. Professor Hopper individualises his approach to the treatment of meniscal tears as the tear type, patient factors and activity levels all require consideration when deciding the most appropriate treatment.
The meniscus is located between the shin bone and thigh bone within the knee joint and acts as a shock absorber. It plays a meaningful role in the protection of the knee joint by providing a cushion thereby maintaining the long term health of the joint.
Meniscal tears can be traumatic or degenerative. Traumatic tears usually occur when the knee twists or rotates, often caused by pivoting, kneeling or squatting. Degenerative tears are usually caused by ‘wear and tear’ within the meniscus which gradually accumulates over time and can be injured fairly innocuously.
Partial meniscectomy is keyhole surgery where small areas of meniscus that contain the tear are removed. It is often performed to alleviate pain and improve function. It is indicated for degenerative tears and tears which do not have a good blood supply.
Most traumatic tears are best treated with meniscal repair whenever possible which can be done arthroscopically (keyhole). The tear is stitched together to allow healing, resulting in preservation of meniscal tissue and avoidance of long term consequences. Different types of repair can be performed, the most complex being a root repair which is where the meniscus inserts into the bone and requires a small tunnel to be made in the shin bone.
Recovery following meniscal surgery is dependent on the type of treatment performed which varies considerably.
A simple meniscectomy is usually performed as a day case procedure. Full weight bearing is allowed but crutches are often required in the early stages. Most patients return to near normal by 6-8 weeks.
Meniscal repair requires a brace postoperatively, usually for a period of 6 weeks which often restricts flexion to 90 degrees. If a root repair is performed, weight bearing is also not allowed for 6 weeks. As a result, meniscal repair is a much longer recovery than a simple meniscectomy.
