Surgery Overview
A meniscus tear is a common injury to the cartilage that stabilizes and cushions the knee joint. Whether or not your tear can be repaired depends on the type of the tear. Radial tears sometimes can be repaired, depending on where they are located. Horizontal, flap, long-standing, and degenerative tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—generally can't be repaired.
Your doctor will suggest the treatment that will likely work best for you based on the zone where the tear is, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your age, your health, and your activity level may also affect your treatment options. In some cases, the surgeon makes the final decision during surgery, when the surgeon can see how strong the meniscus is, where the tear is, and how big the tear is.
Meniscus repair is usually done with arthroscopic surgery. Your doctor puts a lighted tube and scope, called an arthroscope, with other surgical tools through small cuts (incisions) in your knee. Sometimes a larger incision is also needed. The surgeon repairs the meniscus using sutures (stitches) or anchors.
Other knee injuries—most commonly to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)—may occur at the same time as a torn meniscus. In these cases, your surgeon will repair your torn meniscus, if needed, at the same time ACL surgery is done.
