What does meniscal tear surgery involve?

Surgery may involve either repairing the torn tissue or removing the damaged section in a process called a meniscectomy. This type of knee surgery is done arthroscopically which is minimally invasive keyhole surgery.

​ A tourniquet is inflated around your thigh to maintain a bloodless field during the surgery. Typically, two small incisions are made during a knee arthroscopy. One incision for the arthroscope and one for the surgical instruments to treat the knee damage. The keyhole technique usually allows for a more rapid recovery than open techniques as well as shorter recovery times following surgery. The meniscal tear will be either repaired or trimmed depending on the location of the tear in the meniscus. Generally, tears in the zone where there is still a viable blood supply with be repaired and those that are not will be trimmed.