My knee clicks a few weeks after meniscus repair. Should I be worried?

Where harmless clicks come from

After any arthroscopy the knee goes through a phase of swelling, stiffness and muscle weakness. The thigh muscle, especially the inner part called the VMO, loses strength quickly, and the kneecap may track a little less smoothly, producing a click or crunch at the front of the knee.

The joint lining and the small portal incisions also heal with some scar tissue, which can snap over the bone as you bend. Gas bubbles in joint fluid can pop, just as they do in other joints. None of these harm the repair.

Clicks that should be checked

• A click on the inner or outer joint line, where the repair is, together with sharp pain
• A click followed by the knee catching or getting stuck
• New swelling after the click, especially if it happens repeatedly
• A feeling that something moved inside after a twist or a slip
• A knee that was improving and has started to go backwards

What helps

Follow your physiotherapy programme, particularly quadriceps and hip strengthening, because harmless clicks often fade as muscle control returns. Stay within the bending limits you were given, which are usually around 90 degrees for the first weeks, and avoid squatting under load until you are cleared. Ice after exercise if the knee feels warm or puffy.

When to contact the team

Contact the surgical team at Aman Hospital in Doha if a click comes with pain on the repair side, swelling or locking. Dr. Gelber will examine the knee and decide whether it simply needs time or whether an MRI is helpful. A scan soon after repair can be hard to interpret, because healing tissue can look abnormal for months.