Meniscus Tear Surgery

Although a rare ailment, meniscus tear can lead to a lot of pain and swelling in knee joint, intense enough to hamper the person's movements. The ailment is quite common among sportsmen and amongst people practicing an active lifestyle.

Statistics reveal that 61 of every 100,000 people suffer from acute meniscus tear and 60 percent of people above the age of 65 suffer from degenerative meniscus tear, making it one of the most common knee injuries in the world. An individual is left with no option but to opt for meniscus tear surgery if the pain exceeds beyond control. In the United States alone, 850,000 surgeries are performed every year.

Meniscus Tear Overview

Meniscus tear, also referred to as torn cartilage, is the damage caused to the meniscus, a crescent shaped cartilage located at the knee joint in humans. It acts as a shock absorber for two important bones in our legs the tibia and the femur, which makes it an important component of our knee joint. The meniscus can suffer a tear owing to various activities, wherein the knee is bent and twisted forcefully (acute tear).

The problem can also occur with aging as the cartilage starts to wear out with age (degenerative tear). Generally, the symptoms of meniscus tear may include excessive pain when trying to move the knee, stiffness and swelling in the knee joint, clicking sound on knee movement etc. When the condition begins to interfere in normal activities, the individual should ideally seek treatment for the same. The surgical procedure is one of the most useful methods recommended for the treatment of torn meniscus.

Surgical Treatment of Meniscus Tear

The surgical process of meniscus treatment depends on various factors including the place where the meniscus has suffered a tear, age of the person, medical history etc. On the basis of arthroscopic evaluation, the surgeon decides whether the meniscus has to be removed or repaired. The surgery is performed after placing the person in general anesthesia. Opening of the entire knee joint is not at all required in meniscus surgery.

Arthroscopic knee surgery is executed by inserting an arthroscope in the patients body through small incisions. If the tear lies at the center of the cartilage it is very difficult to repair and hence has to be removed, but if the tear lies in the periphery it can be repaired. In case of repair, surgical instruments are used to remove the torn part of the meniscus. Meniscectomy i.e. removing the entire meniscus by surgery is treated as the last resort when repair is not possible.

Cost Incurred
The cost incurred generally varies from person to person. Various factors such as health condition at the time of surgery, medical facility chosen etc. play an important role in determining the cost. Insurance coverage and other such financial aids can make the surgery a bit inexpensive. Generally, it costs approximately between $3000 to $6000 for removal or repair of the meniscus. (The price may vary according to several factors).

Recovery Time
The rehab program usually includes a brief period of rest, followed by walking and selected motion exercises recommended by the medical professional. Post surgery, a knee brace is recommended to disallow unnecessary movements of leg, which can lead to further complications. The patient is also given some general instructions, such as not bearing weight or keeping the leg elevated for some days after surgery, in order to facilitate speedy recovery process. The recovery time also varies depending on the seriousness of issue. Normally, an individual can get back to his day-to-day activities within 2 to 4 weeks of surgery, however if any pain or difficulty in movement is observed the rehab program should be continued for some more time.

Possible Complications
Like other major surgical operations, even meniscus tear surgery can lead to complications ranging from unbearable pain to graft failure, most of which are caused due to physical strain. At times, the recovery process may also slow down, thus making the person suffer from pain for a longer time frame. The person may also experience anesthesia complications and infection in area wherein incisions were made. If any signs of complications are noticed, the person should immediately consult the doctor for necessary aid.

Opting for surgical repair of meniscus becomes a necessity when the ailment starts to reflect on your day-to-day activities. Although the complications do exist, the occurrence is very rare. Following the doctor's instructions and taking some precautionary measures is known to facilitate a speedy recovery process. Meniscus plays an important role in the functioning of our knee, and hence one should take proper care of the same as to keeps various knee problems at bay.