Meniscus tears are a pain – in every sense of the word. We often think of them as elite sporting injuries. But in fact they can happen to anyone through simple wear and tear, especially as we get older.
And once you’ve suffered meniscal damage, it can be irritatingly difficult to shake off. Typical symptoms include swelling, “catching” in the joint, difficulty in straightening the knee and often (though not always) pain. Tearing this crucial pad of cartilage – often described as the knee’s “shock-absorber” – can have a big impact on everyday life.
When does a meniscal tear need surgery?
As with many knee injuries, the first line of treatment is likely to be conservative. Will the damage settle down with rest and simple painkillers? If it persists, can physiotherapy exercises and activity changes make a difference? If the tear is significant and isn’t healing on its own, however, you may find your doctor recommending surgery. Which is where a partial meniscectomy comes in.
Is this the same thing as a “meniscal repair”?
No. The term meniscal repair refers to a different, rather more complicated operation. It involves reattaching loose pieces of cartilage using tiny anchors and medical stitches and is often used for large or complex tears. A partial meniscectomy is more like a remodelling operation for the meniscus: it involves removing some of the tissue around the tear. Though the name may seem unfamiliar, the partial meniscectomy is one of the most common operations in orthopaedics.
How does the operation work?
If you’ve been recommended for a partial meniscectomy, your tear is likely to be in what’s known as the “white zone” of the meniscus. This means there’s little or no blood supply around the torn tissue in your knee. It will typically look ragged and unstable. There may even be a visible flap of tissue that’s catching in the joint. So the idea of the surgery is to trim away the loose, ragged tissue, leaving a smooth, stable surface.
Is it a major operation?
It’s quite quick and straightforward. A partial meniscectomy is usually performed under general anaesthetic, but as a day case using keyhole surgery. It begins by making two small (approx 1cm) incisions in the knee: one for a fibreoptic camera, the other for the trimming instrument. The instrument gently cuts away the loose tissue, preserving as much of the remaining tissue as possible. The whole procedure usually takes about half an hour.
How long does it take to recover?
One of the great things about partial meniscectomies is that the recovery time tends to be quick. Certainly faster than a meniscal repair, where you might need to wear a brace, avoid bearing weight on your knee for several weeks, and get back to full activity after around six months. With the partial procedure, most people can mobilise and bear weight on their knee almost immediately. Alongside a programme of muscle-strengthening and range-of-movement exercises, you can hope to return to normal activities within four weeks and more physical activities after about six weeks. For the typical candidate (often a smallish, mobile tear in the white zone of the meniscus) we find that partial meniscectomies can be an effective way to reduce pain and restore function to a damaged knee.
Interested in reading more about meniscus tears? You may find these articles helpful
- How do you repair a torn meniscus? (blog)
- Meniscal Tear (in the Treatments section of our website)
- Joint 101: a beginner’s guide to the knee (blog)
- I’m due to have an arthroscopy: what happens next? (blog)
