Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair

The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee. When the meniscus is torn, it can cause swelling and pain in the area. Your orthopedic surgeon will determine if it can be repaired or if it will need to be replaced. If the meniscus needs to be replaced, the surgeon will perform an arthroscopic meniscal repair.

During this minimally-invasive procedure, the surgeon uses a fiber optic scope (arthroscope) to view the damage. The surgeon then uses tiny instruments to make the repair. Stitches will be placed using a scope to promote healing of the meniscus if repair is possible, but if repair is not an option the meniscus will be removed and replaced with a graft of tissue. Additional damage to surrounding cartilage or bone can be addressed during surgery. Full healing of a meniscal repair is usually around four to five months.