In time, your knee will likely be stronger and more stable than it was before the surgery. How soon you can return to sports or exercise depends on how well you follow your rehab program and how well your knee heals.
It has also been shown that a knee that has undergone meniscus surgery has weaker thigh muscles and poorer quality of cartilage 4 years after the surgery [3]. This is also thought to increase the risk of arthritis.
Not necessarily. Left untreated, a meniscus tear can limit your daily life and ability to participate in exercise and sports. In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis.
Meniscus tear
According to the study, as many as 36.4% of people who undergo medial meniscus surgery will re-tear their medial meniscus. The risk of re-tearing the lateral meniscus is much lower.
The part of the meniscus removed does not grow back, but is replaced by fibrous tissue. There is an increased likelihood of developing osteoarthritis in patients who have undergone complete (total) menisectomy. It is therefore important to leave behind as much of normal meniscus as is possible.
Without this meniscus cushion, the ends of your tibia and femur may start to rub together abnormally. Over time, this can cause persistent knee pain. Eventually, it may cause arthritis. Your cartilage “cap” degrades and the bones beneath start to scrape together.
The meniscus does have the capability to repair and regenerate. When we surgically remove meniscus tissue we remove the cells that can naturally repair the meniscus damage.
Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee. Difficulty straightening your knee fully. Feeling as though your knee is locked in place when you try to move it. Feeling of your knee giving way.
Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not. Surgery to repair tears may reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.
Bending is usually restricted to under 90 degrees for the first 4-6 weeks while the meniscus is still healing. 4-6 weeks, if: If your motion and strength are recovered. There is no swelling or pain in your knee.
The vast majority of patients with continued knee pain after a meniscus surgery have pain associated with the loss of articular cartilage. In these cases, the use of autologous stem cell-rich bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue is an excellent option.
Doctors understand that knee pain can be worse after meniscus surgery. In the last decade there have been many papers and studies demonstrating that there is a very real probability that many people will have more pain after knee arthroscopic meniscus surgery.
What is the Success Rate of Meniscus Repair? In general, meniscus repair surgery has a high success rate from around 84% to 94%. Success rates tend to decrease if the patient experienced an injury which decreases knee stability, such as an ACL tear.
Regular exercise to restore strength and mobility to your knee is important for your full recovery after arthroscopic surgery. Your orthopaedic surgeon or physical therapist may recommend that you exercise for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day.
What type of meniscus tear is the worst? Bucket-handle meniscus tears are the most serious type of meniscus injury. They often occur alongside a ligament injury. Bucket-handle tears require prompt surgery in order to have the best possible chance of recovery.
In most patients, meniscus tear repair is preferred over meniscus removal. That's because studies have shown when the meniscus is repaired and preserved, patients tend to experience better overall healing and better long-term joint function.
Depending on the level and severity of your meniscus pain, you can often continue running. Many runners end up back on the road after meniscus tears. If in doubt, consult a medical professional.
If a patient underwent a surgical meniscus repair and still experiences pain and swelling, or if a patient re-tears the cartilage, a revision meniscus repair may be necessary.
Pain in the knee joint. Swelling. Catching or locking of the knee joint. Inability to fully extend or bend the knee joint.
Research: For many patients who are over 50, arthroscopic meniscus surgery should not be offered. Instead, patients should continue with nonoperative management until total knee replacement is unavoidable. Maybe arthroscopic meniscus surgery can be offered for some.
Left unrepaired, a meniscus injury can linger for years, causing pain and limited mobility. An unrepaired meniscus tear increases the risks of further injury and permanent damage to the knee.
Living without a meniscus can increase your risk of osteoarthritis and chronic (long-term) knee pain. A torn or injured meniscus can also lead to osteoarthritis. This condition happens when other cartilage in the knee wears away, causing pain and stiffness.
Save the meniscus. Meniscus tears lead to more than a million surgical knee procedures in the U.S. each year. Ninety percent of the menisci are partially removed, 10% repaired, and 0.02%—about 20,000—replaced with a donor meniscus.