Each knee has two menisci: C-shaped pads of cartilage between the thigh bone and the shin bone. They absorb shock, spread load across the joint and help keep the knee stable.
In younger people, a meniscus usually tears with a twisting injury, often during sport and sometimes together with an ACL tear. With age, the meniscus becomes more brittle and can tear with an ordinary movement such as squatting, or gradually as part of wear and tear.
Your surgeon will examine the knee and usually request an MRI scan to confirm the type and position of the tear.
Many tears, particularly degenerative tears in older adults, improve with physiotherapy, activity changes and pain relief, and don’t need surgery. Surgery is considered for tears causing locking, for tears in younger people that are likely to heal if repaired, and when symptoms persist despite non-surgical treatment.
Surgery is done arthroscopically, and takes one of two forms:
After partial meniscectomy, most people walk within days and return to normal activity within a few weeks. After a repair, the knee is protected for longer, often with a brace and limits on bending and weight-bearing, and a return to sport usually takes four to six months.
Dr S. Khan, Dr S. Baba, Dr A.D. Bhatta, Dr S.A. Moodley.