Arthroscopic Meniscal Surgery

What is arthroscopic meniscal surgery?

Arthroscopic meniscal surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon uses an arthroscope and other tools to remove all or part of a damaged meniscus in the knee or, if possible, to repair a meniscus. A meniscus is a piece of rubbery tissue (fibrocartilage) between the bones of the knee joint. An arthroscope is a tube with a light at the end that projects an image of the inside of your knee onto a TV monitor. The arthroscope is about the diameter of a pencil.

When is it used?

The procedure is used when you have damaged cartilage in your knee.

Examples of alternatives are:

limiting your activity
taking medicine to reduce the swelling
having physical therapy
having open knee surgery
choosing not to have treatment, while recognizing the risks of your condition.

You should ask your health care provider about these choices.

How do I prepare for this procedure?

Plan for your care and recovery after the operation, especially if you are to have general anesthesia. Allow for time to rest and try to find other people to help you with your day-to-day duties.

Follow instructions provided by your health care provider. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight or the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water.

What happens during the procedure?

You will be given a general, regional, or local anesthetic. A general anesthetic will relax your muscles and make you feel as if you are in a deep sleep. Both local and regional anesthetics numb part of the body while you remain awake. All three types of anesthesia should keep you from feeling pain.

The surgeon will put an arthroscope and one or two tools into the knee joint through small cuts. Fluid is injected into the knee to expand the joint so that the structures and cartilage can be seen. The surgeon will examine the knee to find any damage. She or he may repair any torn cartilage or shave down the cartilage in the knee and remove the pieces of cartilage. The surgeon will then remove the arthroscope and the tools and close the small openings with stitches.

What happens after the procedure?

You will go home the same day. You should keep your leg elevated. Take it easy for at least the next 2 to 3 days. Do not take part in strenuous activities until your health care provider feels you are ready.

After surgery:

Use crutches for several days or until you can walk nearly normally.
Elevate your leg so that your ankle is higher than your knee and your knee is higher than your hip.
Put ice on your knee for 20 to 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a day until symptoms are gone.
Start bending your knee as soon as possible.
Change your bandage after 4 days and cover the cuts with band-aids or gauze.
If you have a brace or splint, consult your health care provider.
If the cartilage is repaired and not trimmed, we want you to use crutches longer and to not put weight on your leg.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

The arthroscopy may treat the knee without the need for open knee surgery with bigger incisions. There is more rapid recovery than with open knee surgery.

What are the risks associated with this procedure?

There are some risks when you have general anesthesia. Discuss these risks with your health care provider.
The nerves around the knee may be injured causing a little spot of numbness in the leg below the knee.
There is a risk of deep vein thrombosis, a condition in which a blood clot forms within a deep-lying vein.
There is a risk of infection and bleeding.