Meniscus Injury Treatment

What is a Meniscus Injury?

The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia) in your knee. Each knee has two menisci – one on the inner side (medial) and one on the outer side (lateral). Meniscus tears commonly occur during activities that involve twisting or rotating the knee, particularly when the foot is planted and weight is placed on the knee. They can also develop gradually due to age-related degenerative changes. Depending on the tear pattern, location, and patient factors, treatment options range from conservative management to arthroscopic repair or partial removal.

Advanced Diagnostic and Surgical Approaches

Dr. Abhishek Saxena employs a comprehensive diagnostic approach including specialized physical examination maneuvers, high-resolution MRI, and when necessary, diagnostic arthroscopy to accurately assess meniscus injuries. Our treatment philosophy emphasizes meniscus preservation whenever possible, utilizing advanced arthroscopic techniques to repair rather than remove meniscal tissue. For cases requiring partial meniscectomy, we employ precise tissue-sparing techniques to preserve as much healthy meniscus as possible to maintain knee biomechanics and prevent early degenerative changes.

Types of Meniscus Injuries Treated

• Traumatic radial tears
• Bucket-handle tears
• Horizontal tears
• Complex degenerative tears
• Meniscus root injuries
• Meniscus transplantation for complete loss

Comprehensive Treatment Protocol

Our meniscus injury treatment program includes:

• Personalized evaluation of tear pattern and healing potential
• Conservative management with targeted physical therapy for appropriate cases
• Minimally invasive arthroscopic repair techniques including all-inside, inside-out, and outside-in methods
• Advanced meniscus root repair and meniscal allograft transplantation
• Biologics and growth factor augmentation to enhance healing
• Customized rehabilitation protocols based on repair technique and associated injuries

Recovery and Outcomes

Recovery timelines vary based on the specific procedure performed. For meniscus repair, patients typically wear a brace for 4-6 weeks with restricted weight-bearing and controlled range of motion to protect the repair. Physical therapy begins immediately with focus on quadriceps activation and gradual restoration of motion. For meniscectomy procedures, recovery is considerably faster, with most patients returning to normal activities within 4-6 weeks. Our clinical outcomes data demonstrates high rates of meniscal healing following repair, with over 85% of repaired menisci showing complete healing on follow-up MRI studies, and patients reporting significant improvement in pain and function.