Meniscus Injuries

What is a meniscus injury?

Meniscus injuries include tearing, splitting, or fraying of the shock absorbing pads of the cartilage in your knee. Each knee has a medial (inside) and a lateral(outside) meniscus.

Recovery after a meniscus injury depends on how much of your meniscus and other tissue in your knee is damaged. With a mild injury, your recovery may take only 4 to 6 weeks. With a severe injury, your recovery may take up to 3 months.

Arthroscopy findings

Your meniscus can tear in a variety of ways. With a mild injury, your surgeon may find a small tear along the edge of the meniscus that can be trimmed smooth. With a severe injury, the tear is larger, often involving most of your meniscus. With more meniscus damage, you may have more swelling and discomfort and a longer recovery.

Meniscus surgery

If you have a mild injury, your surgeon removes the torn flap of meniscus and trims your meniscus back to healthy tissue, leaving a balanced, stable rim. For a severe injury, your surgeon may need to remove more meniscus, but will leave as much healthy meniscus as possible. After arthroscopy, surface cartilage takes over to absorb shock for the removed meniscus. In some cases, a torn meniscus can be saved by suturing.

Your recovery

Your recovery will consist of a combination of rest and exercise. You may have an ace bandage and crutches for a few days to several weeks, bearing weight to tolerance. Pain and swelling are usually minimal. If your meniscus is sutured, a brace or cast immobilizes your knee for several weeks.

Exercises are needed to help regain muscle support for your knee and help prevent injury in the future. Your physical therapist will teach you all the exercises and stretches you'll need for your recovery.

A full, rapid recovery is likely, especially with a mild injury. With more stress on your surface cartilage after having some meniscus removed, you may experience wear and tear problems in the future.

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