Meniscus Surgery
A torn meniscus is damage to the cartilage that sits on top of the tibia and allows the femur to glide when the knee joint moves. At the beginning of treatment for the meniscus is the diagnosis of a meniscal tear. Some meniscal tears can be treated conservatively. Surgical treatment of a meniscus tear may include the removal of parts of the torn meniscus. Although this procedure is very successful, the patient should understand that the removed cartilage serves a function, and removing it may cause further problems.
A direct repair of the torn meniscus through sutures or tacks is only possible if the tear is near the meniscal blood supply which are the outer rims of the meniscus. The more centrally the tear is, the more unlikely it is that the meniscus will heal and a resection in this area is usually the best choice.
