Arthroscopic Partial Menisectomy
What is the Meniscus?
- The menisci are two pads of cartilaginous tissue which serve to disperse friction in the knee joint between the lower leg (tibia) and the thigh (femur)
- The knee contains a lateral meniscus and a medial meniscus
- Both are cartilaginous tissues that provide structural integrity to the knee when it undergoes tension and torsion
What Does It Do?
- Shock Absorption
- The menisci act to disperse the weight of the body and reduce friction during movement
- Since the ends of the thigh bone and shin bone meet at one point (which changes during flexion and extension), the menisci spread the load of the body's weight
- This protects the integrity of the articular cartilage of the knee joint
Meniscus Tears
- Torn or worn away from overuse, age, or injury
- Common in sports such as soccer & basketball
- Commonly related to anterior cruciate ligament injuries of the knee
- The knee will be in pain when in use
- But when there is no load, the pain goes away
- Some meniscal tears can cause jamming or locking of the knee
Treatment
- Observation / physiotherapy
-
Arthroscopic menisectomy
- Partial or total
- Arthroscopic meniscus repair
Observation
- Suitable for partial thickness tears
-
Small tears close to capsule
- possible to heal on its own
If you have any specific medical condition or queries, please consult your medical doctor.
