Meniscal Repair

If a tear of the meniscal cartilage is in the periphery of the cartilage and is fresh, that is within 6 weeks of injury, then the cartilage should be repaired rather than removed. Any person with fresh knee injury which may be a cartilage injury should only be arthroscoped by a surgeon who has the expertise and training to perform this type of repair.

This surgery is performed arthroscopically (keyhole). The torn cartilage is put back into the correct place and sutures are passed across the cartilage from inside the knee to out and tied on the outside of the capsule of the knee. The repair is then protected from twisting movements for 6 weeks. The success rate is not 100% but if the result is successful the risk of arthritis following the surgery is much decreased.