A meniscectomy is a common surgical procedure performed on the knee to treat a torn or damaged meniscus. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped piece of cartilage located between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). It acts primarily as a shock absorber, helping to distribute body weight and stabilize the knee during movement. A meniscectomy involves the surgical removal of the damaged portion of this cartilage, with the goal of relieving pain and restoring the knee’s function.
Understanding When Meniscectomy is Required
The decision to perform a meniscectomy is typically made when the meniscus tear cannot be successfully repaired. Tears that occur in the inner third of the meniscus, known as the “white zone,” have a poor blood supply, meaning they are unlikely to heal naturally even with a surgical repair. Complex tears, degenerative tears in older patients, or tears where the tissue is severely fragmented also generally require removal rather than stitching.
The primary goal of this procedure is to remove the unstable flap of torn tissue that causes mechanical symptoms, such as the knee locking, catching, or giving out. Surgeons seek to preserve as much of the healthy meniscus as possible, making a partial meniscectomy the preferred approach over total removal. When symptoms like persistent pain and limited function continue despite non-surgical treatments, removing the damaged segment is often the most effective way to restore comfortable movement.
How the Surgical Procedure is Performed
The meniscectomy procedure is almost always performed using arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique. The patient is given anesthesia, and the surgeon makes a few small incisions, typically less than a centimeter long, around the knee joint. One of these small cuts, or portals, is used to insert an arthroscope, which is a thin tube equipped with a camera and light.
This arthroscope transmits a live, magnified video feed to a monitor, allowing the surgeon to see the entire interior of the knee joint. Through the other small incisions, specialized arthroscopic instruments are inserted to work on the damaged tissue. The surgeon first uses a probe to assess the exact location and pattern of the tear.
Using tiny instruments like a meniscal biter or specialized cutters, the torn or unstable portion of the meniscus is carefully trimmed away. The procedure is meticulously performed to remove only the damaged tissue, leaving the healthy, stable rim of the meniscus intact. Finally, the remaining edge of the meniscus is smoothed out to prevent any rough edges from catching or causing further irritation within the joint.
Immediate Recovery and Rehabilitation Timeline
Recovery from an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is generally fast. Most patients can bear weight on the operated leg almost immediately, often with the temporary assistance of crutches for comfort and stability. Swelling and discomfort are expected in the first few days, which are managed through prescribed pain medication, rest, and applying ice.
Physical therapy usually begins shortly after the operation, often within the first week or two. Early goals focus on regaining the knee’s full range of motion, particularly achieving the ability to fully straighten the leg. Strengthening exercises for the thigh muscles (quadriceps) are introduced early in the rehabilitation protocol to help stabilize the knee joint.
The majority of patients can return to daily activities and desk work within three to five days, and light exercise like cycling or swimming can often start after the incisions have healed, typically within a few weeks. A return to more strenuous activities and higher-impact sports is generally achieved between four to six weeks, depending on the patient’s muscle strength recovery and the surgeon’s clearance.
Long-Term Health Implications of Tissue Removal
The long-term consequence of a meniscectomy stems directly from the removal of shock-absorbing tissue. Even partial removal reduces the meniscus’s ability to distribute force and cushion the joint. This results in increased stress on the articular cartilage, the smooth tissue covering the ends of the bones.
Over many years, this increased load on the joint surface can raise the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Research suggests that patients who undergo a meniscectomy have a higher risk of developing radiographic signs of osteoarthritis compared to those whose tears are managed non-surgically. The amount of meniscal tissue removed is a strong predictor of this long-term risk, which is why surgeons aim to preserve as much of the healthy meniscus as possible.