Meniscectomy - St. Marks Outpatient Surgery Center

Related Media: Knee Arthroscopy: Arthroscopic Meniscectomy

To see an animated version of this procedure, click Procedure InMotion .

Definition

Meniscus is cartilage in the knee joint. It helps to stabilize and cushion the knee. A meniscectomy is the removal of all or part of the meniscus.

Arthroscopic Meniscectomy

Reasons for Procedure

A meniscectomy is done when the cartilage is damaged. Damaged cartilage can cause pain, or give you problems with knee motion.

Possible Complications

Problems from the procedure are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review potential problems, like:

Infection
Excess bleeding
Swelling
Blood clots
Chronic weakness in knee joint
Worsening or unchanged pain

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

Smoking
Poor nutrition
History of blood clots
Long-term illness
Use of certain medicines

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Your doctor may do the following:

Physical exam
Blood test
X-ray
MRI to get images of the internal structure of the knee

Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to one week before the procedure, like:

Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs
Blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin
Anti-platelet drugs, such as clopidogrel

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the day before your surgery, unless told otherwise by your doctor.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia will keep you pain-free and comfortable during the procedure. Depending on the procedure, anesthesia may be:

Local—the area around the knee will be numbed
Spinal—your lower body will be numbed from an injection into the back
General anesthesia—you will be asleep

Description of the Procedure

There are two methods for meniscectomy. The more common procedure is called arthoscopy. Arthrotomy, an open technique, is rarely used. This may also be referred to as an open meniscectomy.

Arthroscopy

Small incisions are made around the knee. Special tools are inserted into the knee joint. A tiny camera will provide a view of the inside of the knee. The damaged meniscus is either repaired or removed. The doctor will remove as little cartilage as possible. A drain may be inserted to drain away fluid. The incisions are closed with stitches. The stitches are usually removed in the doctor's office one week later.

Arthrotomy

A larger incision is made over the knee joint. The meniscus is then either repaired or removed. The incision is closed with stitches. It usually results in a longer recovery period. This process is usually done when there are problems with the knee that make the arthroscopic procedure difficult.

How Long Will It Take?

The procedure usually takes less than one hour.

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will block pain during the procedure. You will have pain after the procedure. Ask your doctor about medication to help manage pain.

Post-procedure Care

At the Care Center

Right after the procedure, the staff will monitor your recovery. The staff may give you:

Pain medication
Antibiotics to prevent infection
Medication that prevents blood clots

At Home

Use compression and ice for 48-72 hours after surgery. This will help reduce swelling.
Elevate legs often while resting in bed.
Use crutches or knee splint as directed by your doctor.
Do exercises as recommended. You may start with simple thigh muscle exercises the day after surgery. More strengthening exercises will be added later.
Take pain medications and all other prescribed medications as recommended by your doctor.
Ask your doctor about when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

If the meniscus was removed, it generally takes 3-6 weeks to return to full activities.

If the cartilage was repaired, it can take up to four months for full recovery. The goal of the first week is to reduce pain and swelling. After this, the goals are to increase range of motion and weight-bearing. Physical therapy is often done several times a week for four weeks or more. At 6-8 weeks, low impact activities can often be added. This will help to prepare you to return to sports or activities. Running, cutting, and rotation are avoided for at least 16 weeks.

If the meniscus was removed, it generally takes 3-6 weeks to return to full activities.

If the cartilage was repaired, it can take up to four months for full recovery. The goal of the first week is to reduce pain and swelling. After this, the goals are to increase range of motion and weight-bearing. Physical therapy is often done several times a week for four weeks or more. At 6-8 weeks, low impact activities can often be added. This will help to prepare you to return to sports or activities. Running, cutting, and rotation are avoided for at least 16 weeks.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
Pain, redness, or swelling in either calf
Pain that you cannot control with the medications you have been given
Nausea and vomiting
Swollen, discolored, or cold toes
Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
New or worsening symptoms

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.org

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine http://www.sportsmed.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Orthopaedic Association http://www.coa-aco.org

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation http://www.canorth.org

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org .

Arthroscopy. John Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/test%5Fprocedures/orthopaedic/arthroscopy%5Fprocedure%5F92,P07676/. Accessed May 3, 2013.

Knee arthroscopy. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00299. Updated March 2010. Accessed May 3, 2013.

Meniscus tears. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated March 24, 2013. Accessed May 3, 2013.

Revision Information

Reviewer: John C. Keel, MD; Brian Randall, MD
Review Date: 05/2013 -
Update Date: 05/03/2013 -

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