Meniscus Repair Surgery in Dallas and Frisco, Texas
Meniscal Tear Treatment
Meniscus Repair and Removal
Certain types of movements, like crossovers in basketball, are incredible to watch. However, they sometimes lead to a torn meniscus. Contact sports unfortunately present a significant risk of meniscus tears to athletes. Additionally, these are among the most common of knee injuries. Although sports increase the risk of these painful injuries, anyone of any age can experience them. Depending on the severity of your tear, you might still be able to walk around with minor pain afterward. However, it is imperative that you receive treatment as soon as possible. Meniscus repair surgery is one way that our knee doctors in Dallas treat these injuries.
At SPORT, our orthopedic specialists treat a wide variety of knee conditions, including a torn meniscus, knee replacements, hyperextended knees, and even sprained knees. In order to prevent your condition from worsening, we invite you to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals. To schedule your appointment, please give us a call at 469-200-2832 or fill out our online intake form. We can’t wait to work alongside you to get your life back on track.
What Happens if You Don't Repair a Torn Meniscus?
Many people think that meniscus tears heal on their own over time. However, there are several different types of meniscus tears, and not all of them heal without some form of specialized treatment.
The outer one-third of the meniscus has a rich supply of blood, which helps to regenerate the tissue of the area. Thus, it can either heal on its own or heal more quickly after a surgical repair. The inner two-thirds, however, lack the same blood flow. Therefore, the tear generally does not heal on its own, and usually requires surgical repair.
If left untreated, a torn meniscus may loosen and slip into the joint of the knee. In this case, you might require surgery in order to restore the full function of your knee. Additionally, these tears can increase in size and produce further complications, including arthritis and instability in the knee.
How Do You Repair a Torn Meniscus?
Depending on the size, kind, and location of your tear, there are a few different treatment and repair options for you. If the tear is minor, our specialists will likely recommend plenty of rest, ice, pain relievers, and physical therapy to gradually aid the healing process. If these methods do not prove successful, or if your injury is more severe, we will pursue surgical options. To confirm that this is the best option, surgeons usually request MRI scans of the area.
Additionally, some professionals choose to view the area via knee arthroscopy with a small camera. In many cases of Grade 1 or 2 tears, patients do not need surgery. For Grade 3 tears, however, surgery is almost always required.
How Painful is a Meniscus Root Repair?
While a large portion of patients ask about the pain level associated with their surgery, it is a difficult question to answer. Each patient is unique, as is their body. Therefore, they handle pain differently. Even if two patients have the exact same procedure, their pain levels may vary drastically. However, there are ways to effectively manage any pain you have after meniscus repair surgery. Our specialists recommend ice, pain medications, limited activity, and physical therapy at the very least. If you have concerns about pain management, please feel free to ask one of our orthopedic surgeons about this prior to the surgery. We wish to work closely with our patients in terms of their recovery, and pain management is a very important part of postoperative care.
What is Meniscus Repair Surgery?
Meniscus repair surgery is a low-risk procedure which is performed in one of a few different ways. Below, we outline the three common methods of meniscus repair surgery.
- Knee arthroscopy repair: The surgeon makes small incisions in your knee, and inserts a tiny camera (arthroscope) into the knee. They view the tear, and insert small surgical instruments to stitch the tear together. Over time, the body absorbs these stitches.
- Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: The surgeon removes a part of the meniscus in order to restore knee function.
- Arthroscopic total meniscectomy: The surgeon removes the entire meniscus.
Can You Walk Immediately After Meniscus Repair Surgery?
This depends on a few factors regarding your surgery. In most cases, no. The time it takes to be able to walk after your surgery depends mostly on whether your procedure was done openly or arthroscopically. The next important factor is whether you had a repair, a partial meniscectomy or a total meniscectomy. We usually advise the use of crutches for at least several days after even a minor repair, as putting pressure on the area too early can result in complications or slower healing. Some cases require the use of a knee brace along with the crutches.
What is the Success Rate of Meniscus Repair?
In general, meniscus repair surgery has a high success rate from around 84% to 94%. Success rates tend to decrease if the patient experienced an injury which decreases knee stability, such as an ACL tear. However, we can increase the success rate slightly by performing a meniscus repair in conjunction with the ACL reconstruction. These two procedures may complement each other and promote healing. Notably, younger patients have a higher success rate than older patients. Additionally, as with any surgery, certain patients are simply more prone to complications due to prior injuries, health conditions, or medical history. Therefore, your doctor will evaluate which treatment plan is right for you.
What is a Torn Meniscus Surgery Recovery Time?
As we stated before, recovery times vary from patient to patient, according to both the severity of the injury, as well as the type of procedure performed. Below, we outline what the average meniscus repair surgery recovery will look like for each of the above procedure types:
- Knee arthroscopy repair: Generally, this requires a period of limited weight-bearing, including the use of crutches or a walker. We also recommend limited motion, and sometimes a knee brace. Generally, it takes 4 to 8 weeks to increase weight bearing and range of motion. Most of our SPORT patients walk without their knee brace or crutches after around 2 to 3 months.
- Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: Partial removals usually see shorter recovery times than meniscus repair surgery. We advise our patients to use crutches for a few days, and to take it easy for around 2 weeks. Most patients gradually increase their activity levels at their own pace if they feel no pain.
- Arthroscopic total meniscectomy: Total removals might take as long as 4 to 6 weeks for full range of motion restoration.
Meniscus Repair Surgery in Dallas, TX
If you have trouble going about your daily life because of knee pain or discomfort, our experts at SPORT Orthopedics and Rehabilitation are here to help. We perform a variety of different joint replacements and surgeries, including knee clicking treatment, rotator cuff surgery, and knee arthroscopy. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our professionals, as we can’t wait to work with you to restore your quality of life. To schedule an appointment with us, please call 469-200-2832 today, or visit us online and fill out our online intake form. We look forward to working with you and guiding you through the process.
