 Diagnosis & Therapy |
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 Meniscus |
(cartilage disc)
Background & SymptomsThe meniscus is a cartilage disc that cushions the point where the upper and lower leg bones meet in the knee joint. The meniscus may tear as the result of, for example, an accident, heavy load over a long period of time or deterioration due to old age. The tear in the meniscus leads to "debris" floating in the joint, which in turn leads to deterioration of the cartilage surfaces of the leg bones. In acute cases, the pain can be very intense and the joint may even lose most of its mobility, or even "lock". In the long-term, arthritis may develop. |
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Treatment
There are two ways to treat a torn meniscus. Some tears can be repaired with stitches that are similar to staples and dissolve after a few weeks - a procedure which is performed arthroscopically (microsurgery). If the tear cannot be repaired in this way, the loose "flap" and the resulting debris are removed arthroscopically. The use of the surgical laser - a relatively new development - has greatly reduced the recovery time necessary after such an operation. Although removing a portion of the meniscus reduces its size slightly, it alleviates the irritation in the joint, which is what really causes damage. In addition, we remove as little of the meniscus as possible. |
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How long will I be off work?If the meniscus is stitched, you can expect to be off work for two to three weeks, during which time you will need to use crutches: Patients who do heavy manual work can expect to be off work for six to eight weeks. If a part of the meniscus is removed, you can expect to be off sick for one to two weeks if you work in an office - two to three weeks if you do manual work. Depending on the extent of the damage to the leg bones, it may take anywhere from one to six weeks before you are "back to normal". |
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Can I play sports again?If the tear is detected early on, i.e. there is no major damage to the surfaces of the leg bones, then you may play any sports you wish without limitations - however, you must first observe a recovery period of between four and six weeks. If there is major damage to the bone surfaces, you may only be able to play sports again on a limited basis. |
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