Meniscus Repair

Meniscus Repair Overview

A meniscus repair is a minimally invasive procedure that treats a torn meniscus. Patients who injure their knee and experience meniscus tear symptoms should make an appointment with a Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) to find out if a meniscus repair is an appropriate treatment option.

How is a meniscus repair performed?

A meniscus repair is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. A CONA specialist:

• Carefully inserts an arthroscope into the knee joint
• Views the knee joint on a nearby television monitor
• Repairs the torn meniscus.

The surgical site is sterilely dressed and an ACE bandage is wrapped around the knee. Total procedure time is 30-60 minutes.

What conditions can meniscus repair treat?

A meniscus repair treats a severely torn meniscus that does not respond to nonsurgical treatment options.

What are meniscus repair advantages?

A meniscus repair is a minimally invasive procedure. The large knee muscles are not cut or damaged. Patients experience minimal postoperative pain and recover quickly. Repairing a meniscus helps to save tissue that is vital to providing cushion to the knee and delaying arthritis. 

What is meniscus repair recovery like?

Meniscus repair recovery begins at home. The patient rests and relaxes for about two weeks. The first postoperative appointment is about two weeks after surgery. Stitches are taken out and physical therapy is usually prescribed. The patient is monitored over the course of 2-3 months until a complete recovery is made.