How do I know whether my meniscus tear can be repaired?

Features that favour repair

• A tear in or near the outer, blood-supplied zone
• A vertical or longitudinal pattern, including many bucket-handle tears
• Healthy, good-quality meniscus tissue rather than frayed, worn tissue
• A recent injury
• A root tear in a knee without advanced arthritis
• A stable knee, or one in which the ACL is reconstructed at the same time

Features that make repair less likely

• Degenerative, frayed or complex tears in the inner, white zone
• Small flap tears where the loose tissue has little chance of healing
• Tissue that has been displaced and damaged over many months
• Significant arthritis in the same compartment

In these cases, trimming only the unstable part, while keeping as much healthy meniscus as possible, is usually more sensible.

What the MRI can and cannot tell

A good-quality MRI shows the tear location, pattern and whether a fragment has flipped. It can suggest that a tear is repairable, but it cannot fully judge tissue quality or exactly how stable the tear is under a probe. That is why consent for surgery often covers both repair and partial removal, with the choice made once the tear is seen.

Your consultation in Doha

At Aman Hospital, Dr. Gelber reviews your MRI images, examines the knee for stability and locking, and asks about your age, work, prayer, sport and goals. He then explains the likelihood of repair for your tear, and what recovery would look like with each outcome, so you are not surprised when you wake up.