Torn meniscus: the surgical techniques and the post-op recovery
Written by:Nowadays there are several minimally-invasive techniques available to an orthopaedic surgeon to operate on a torn meniscus. Most knee operations can be done by a simple arthroscopy.
There are 3 different techniques which are used depending on the location and type of torn meniscus:
• Outside-in
The rupture is addressed from outside the joint using an arthroscope. The sutures are made using cannulated needles or wire passing devices, which are introduced through small holes in the skin.
• Inside-out
The suture needles are directed from within the joint to the outside. This technique requires the realisation of a small open approach in the postero-lateral region for the external meniscus and postero-medial for the internal meniscus.
• All-inside
Suture devices are used with threads with small plastic pieces that serve as a stop on the outside of the joint capsule. In this way, the meniscus surgery can be performed using only the previous incision and without the need for further incisions.
Most meniscus tears can be repaired with the ‘all-inside’ technique. There are some, however, that require small tunnels in the tibia to re-attach the meniscus to the bone. An example is the rupture of the posterior root.
In case of patients who have undergone a meniscectomy and present pain in the affected area, they can be offered meniscal replacement surgery using artificial substitutes or transplants depending on the conditions they present.
Torn meniscus recovery: the post-op
The recovery after a meniscus tear operation will depend on the type of torn meniscus and the technique used. In the case of meniscal repair performed as well as a reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, for example, the postoperative period for the two procedures runs concurrently. For most operations, the patient can bear weight from the day of surgery, as long as he does not do so with the knee in flexion. This is why knee orthoses (some form of brace) are often used to limit the range of motion.
