What is a torn meniscus in the knee?
Located in the knee are two crescent-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage known as the meniscus. This tissue acts as a cushion, or shock absorber, which is designed to distribute weight and stress placed on the knee with movements like running, jumping, or squatting. Forceful twisting motions of the knee are often required while playing sports and can cause a tear in the tissues that make up the meniscus. A meniscus tear can occur in various areas of this cartilage and in different tear shapes or patterns. This type of injury is most commonly seen in athletes and young adults who frequently engage in physical activity. Meniscus injuries may need medical intervention because the meniscus has a limited supply of blood compared to other parts of the body and will rarely heal by itself. Dr. Joseph Lamplot, orthopedic knee surgeon, treats patients in Arlington Heights, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and the surrounding Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL, who have torn the meniscus in their knee.
What is a meniscus repair?
A meniscus repair is a procedure used to reconnect the injured part of the meniscus to healthy tissue in order to help return blood flow to the area. This will allow the injured tissue to receive nutrients from the body needed to heal. The goal of a meniscus repair is to keep as much of the original tissue intact as possible and return full function to the knee. This surgery is most successfully performed in younger patients (<30 years old) who have an improved blood supply to the knee when compared to older patients.
What type of surgery is done for a meniscus tear in the knee?
A surgical knee arthroscopic procedure is used to perform a meniscus repair. During this procedure, Dr. Lamplot will use an arthroscope, a small surgical camera placed in the knee during the procedure, and small specialized surgical tools to repair the injury using very strong sutures (stitches). He will reconnect the damaged section of the meniscus to the healthy portion to facilitate blood flow to allow the meniscus to heal and return stability to the knee joint.
What happens when the meniscus cannot be repaired?
In some patients, a meniscus tear occurs in a region of the knee that has very limited blood flow. These types of tears commonly occur on the inner section of the meniscus within the knee joint. The injured meniscus tissue in these areas cannot be healed by the body and therefore are removed. In this situation, Dr. Lamplot will remove the damaged section of the meniscus arthroscopically, working to save as much healthy meniscus tissue as possible.
What is the recovery time after the repair of a torn meniscus?
After a meniscus repair procedure, a patient can expect to wear a knee brace for approximately 6-8 weeks. This brace will stabilize the knee to allow the meniscus to heal properly. The amount of weight that can be placed on the knee may also be restricted to facilitate healing, with a variable duration depending on the type of tear and repair performed. Shortly after undergoing a meniscus repair, the patient will participate in an individually tailored physical therapy that will help return full strength and range of motion and help the patient return to participation in their favorite activities. It will typically take 5 to 6 months for a patient to fully recover after a meniscus tear repair.
Meniscus Repair Surgeon
If you have torn or injured the meniscus in your knee, it is important to preserve as much of the meniscus as possible. Some meniscus tears can be repaired instead of removed or replaced. Meniscus repair surgeon, Doctor Joseph D. Lamplot, provides diagnosis as well as surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Arlington Heights, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and the surrounding Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL who have a torn meniscus. Contact Dr. Lamplot’s team today!
