Meniscus repair or meniscectomy: should my torn meniscus be stitched or trimmed?

Why keeping the meniscus matters

The meniscus spreads load across the knee. Removing even part of it raises the pressure on the cartilage beneath, and larger removals are linked with earlier arthritis in many patients. That is why surgeons try to save it whenever the tear can heal.

Not every tear can. Healing depends on where the tear is, its pattern, the quality of the tissue and how long ago it happened.

Repair and meniscectomy side by side

• Tears that suit repair: vertical or bucket-handle tears in the outer zone with blood supply, root tears, recent tears in younger knees
• Tears that suit meniscectomy: frayed, degenerative or complex tears in the inner zone that cannot heal
• Crutches and brace: repair often needs a period of protected weight bearing and limited deep bending; meniscectomy usually allows walking within days
• Return to sport: repair usually 4 to 6 months; meniscectomy often several weeks
• Long term: repair keeps the meniscus; meniscectomy permanently reduces it
• Risk of a second operation: a repair may fail to heal and need further surgery; after meniscectomy some knees develop pain from overload

Who tends to suit which

Younger and active patients with repairable tears are usually advised to have repair, even though the rehabilitation is longer. In adults over about 40 with degenerative tears and no locking, physiotherapy often comes before any surgery, and a limited meniscectomy is considered only if mechanical symptoms persist. The final choice is often confirmed during arthroscopy, so it helps to agree a plan for both possibilities beforehand.

When to see a knee surgeon in Doha

See a surgeon promptly if your knee locks, will not fully straighten or swelled after a twist, because recent tears are more often repairable. At Aman Hospital, Dr. Gelber reviews the MRI, examines the knee and explains which option your tear is likely to need and what recovery would look like around your work, prayer and sport.