Meniscectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of a torn meniscus. A meniscus tear is a common knee joint injury. Surgeons who perform meniscectomies (orthopedic surgeons) will make surgical decisions based on the meniscus's ability to heal as well as your age, health, and activity level.
Your doctor will suggest the treatment that will likely work best for you based on where the tear is, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. In some cases, the surgeon makes the final decision during surgery, when the surgeon can see the how strong the meniscus is, where the tear is, and how big the tear is.
Meniscus surgery is usually done as arthroscopic surgery. Your doctor uses a lighted tube called an arthroscope, or scope. The doctor puts the scope and other surgical tools through small cuts in your knee.
If a meniscus tear is causing pain or swelling, your doctor may recommend surgery to have the torn pieces of the meniscus removed. The edges will be surgically shaved to make the remaining meniscus smooth. Your surgeon will try to preserve as much meniscal tissue as possible. This can help prevent long-term degeneration of your knee and allow you to return to full activities.
To decide whether to remove all or part of your meniscus, the doctor will look at the location, length, tear pattern, and stability of the tear as well as the condition of the whole meniscus. Your surgeon will also consider the condition of the entire knee, your age, and any age- or injury-related degeneration.
Orthopedic surgeons most often perform meniscus surgery with arthroscopy. This is a procedure used to both examine and repair the inside of a joint. A thin tube (arthroscope) is inserted through small incisions near the joint. This scope contains a camera and a light. Surgical tools are inserted through other small incisions. Arthroscopic surgery may limit knee damage from surgery and may promote fuller recovery. But some tears may require open knee surgery.
In a total meniscectomy, the entire meniscus is removed. In a partial meniscectomy, the surgeon removes as little of the meniscus as possible. Unstable meniscal fragments are removed, and the remaining meniscus edges are smoothed so that there are no frayed ends.
You may have general or regional anesthesia for a meniscectomy. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is commonly done in an outpatient surgical center.
The goal of a meniscus repair is to reduce your pain and improve your knee function. Also, you may be able to prevent long-term complications (such as osteoarthritis).
Successful repair of meniscus tears depends on the size, location, and cause of the tear. Tears that are located near the outer edge of the meniscus have a good blood supply and heal better. Those near the center don't heal as well. Small tears heal better than large ones. Tears caused by sudden trauma heal better than tears caused by wear and tear.
If you have a tear caused by an injury and your surgeon recommends repair, you will probably be able to return to your normal sports and daily activities.
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
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