Meniscus Repair Treatment & Diagnostics in Karol Bagh, Delhi
Meniscus Repair
Meniscus repair is a surgical procedure to repair a knee injury called a meniscus tear. Like other types of knee injuries, it can be painful and discomforting. It is most common among athletes or sportspersons involved in sports like soccer, basketball, tennis, etc.
One of the most frequently occurring knee injuries, a meniscal tear, can cause symptoms like pain, swelling, inflammation, difficulty in bending and straightening the knee joint or your knee may feel stuck. Consult an ortho doctor near you if you have such symptoms.
What is Meniscus Repair?
A meniscus is a C-shaped cartilage that acts as a shock absorber for your knees. Each knee has a pair of menisci, one on the inner side and the other on the outer side.
The primary task of the menisci is to take in any pressure that falls on your knee. It also prevents any friction between your leg bones, which can cause arthritis in the future.
You may end up getting a torn meniscus while:
- Squatting, particularly during weight-lifting or exercising
- Climbing hills or stairs.
- Bending your knee too far
- Walking on uneven terrain
With the help of a meniscus repair surgery, an orthopedic doctor can correct this knee injury.
What are the Different Approaches of Meniscus Repair?
Your doctor may choose from the following:
- Arthroscopic repair: Your doctor makes small incisions on your knee and inserts an arthroscope to examine the tear. Then, to stitch the tear, the doctor places dart-like small devices along the tear. These devices get dissolved in your body with time.
- Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: This surgery involves removing a part of the torn meniscus to help normalize your knee function.
- Arthroscopic total meniscectomy: During this surgery, your doctor removes the entire meniscus.
Who Qualifies for this Procedure?
A meniscus tear surgery is beneficial in the following cases:
- Injury to the meniscus is common, specifically in sportspersons or those who pursue any sports activity for fun. A sudden twist or collision can cause a meniscus tear.
- Menisci in older people become weak with age and tend to get torn frequently.
- Often, people with a meniscus tear opt for surgery because the damaged cartilage can destabilize the knee, causing severe pain and swelling.
Why is a Meniscus Repair Conducted?
When you visit an ortho hospital near you for the associated symptoms, a doctor may recommend that you try non-surgical treatment, which includes:
- Physical therapy
- Knee injections
- Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Avoiding any activities that can impact the knee.
But, when these methods fail to provide necessary relief, you must consult an orthopedic surgeon near you, who can guide you about a meniscus repair surgery.
Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Karol Bagh, New Delhi.
Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.
What are the Benefits?
A meniscus repair surgery can:
- Help you resume sports and other activities.
- Stabilize your knee.
- Lessen the pain or give complete relief from it.
- Improve mobility.
- Prevent or decelerate the development of arthritis.
Are There Any Complications?
Rarely, but a meniscus repair surgery can cause complications like:
- Blood clots
- Knee arthritis, later in life
- Bleeding from the knee area
- Infection in the location of the surgery
- Blood vessels and nerves around your knee can suffer Injury
- Joint stiffness
- Reaction to anesthesia leading to problems with the heart or lungs
Conclusion
Meniscus repair surgery can fix a torn meniscus and reinstate the stability of your knee joint. Proper rehabilitation and physical therapy stimulate the healing process and ease the pain, and you can resume your activities.
So, if you are experiencing knee pain that is affecting your daily life and restricting your movement, get in touch with an orthopedic specialist near you.
References
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/meniscus-tear-surgery
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17219-torn-meniscus#management-and-treatment
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21508-meniscus-surgery#risks--benefits
Doctors decide on the surgery depending on the following factors:
- Your age
- Size, type and location of the tear
- Symptoms that you experience such as locking, pain, swelling, etc.
- Presence of any associated injuries like an ACL tear
- Your lifestyle and activity level
To keep your knees stable, you may have to wear a brace and use a crutch to prevent putting any pressure on your knee. Physical therapy is also a part of your recovery to strengthen your knee. If you undergo a partial or total meniscectomy, complete recovery may take about three months.
Generally, your doctor informs you about your follow-up appointments. However, if you notice any of the following, then contact the doctor immediately:
- Breathing difficulty
- Pain and swelling that does not go away even with resting
- Unexpected drainage from the dressing
- Pus or foul-smelling drainage from the incision
- Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit
Although it is tricky to avoid an accidental injury, you can lower the risk by practicing the following:
- Wear a knee brace if you know you have a weak knee.
- Strengthen your knee muscles by exercising regularly.
- Start your fitness sessions with warm-up and gradually move on to intense exercises.
- Wear the right shoes while exercising.