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Meniscal Tear Surgery

In meniscal tear surgery, the main goal to conserve as much of the meniscal tissue while removing the damaged tissue to ensure to reoccurrence of the symptoms. There are four surgical methods which are used in meniscal tear surgery:

•  Inside-Out Arthroscopic Technique

•  Outside-In Arthroscopic Technique

•  All-Inside Arthroscopic Technique

•  Open Technique

Of these four, the inside-out technique is considered the gold standard and is most often used to treat athletes.

In the inside-out method, curved guide tubes called cannulas to direct a pair of long needles into the meniscus and out through a small incision in the back of the knee. The suture thread ends connected to the needles are then tied together on the outside of the knee capsule layer to firmly bring the meniscal tear together.. Retrospective studies have reported 73% to 91% success rates based on clinical results. Though repair surgery is rarely done in athletes, the inside out method is usually used.

Repair surgery only works for about 10% of meniscal tears. For the remainder of tears either a partial or full meniscectomy must be preformed. In this surgery, the surgeon goes in arthroscopically and excises part the torn part of the meniscus. In any surgery, the surgeon attempts to conserve as much of the meniscal tissue while removing the damaged tissue. It is used when the inner portion of the meniscus is torn. This surgery is used for most meniscal tears in athletes.