Overview
The meniscus is a C-shaped wedge of tough cartilage (fibrocartilage) that sits between the femur (femur) and tibia (tibia) in each part of the knee. It spreads load and protects the cartilage surfaces beneath it. The outer third of the meniscus has a blood supply and can heal when stitched. The inner two-thirds get no direct blood supply and cannot knit back together after a tear. When a tear falls in that inner zone, repair is not a reliable option. The same is true when the tear pattern is too complex or too degenerated to hold stitches.
A torn flap of meniscus that cannot heal becomes a mechanical problem. It catches between the joint surfaces and causes pain and swelling with twisting or squatting. It can even lock the knee in a partly bent position. Partial meniscectomy removes the unstable, torn fragment and keeps as much of the working rim as possible. Every millimeter of remaining meniscus still shares load and protects the cartilage underneath.
The goal is to remove the least tissue that still ends the catching and pain. Taking more than necessary speeds the loss of load-sharing in that part of the knee and brings arthritis on sooner. That is why the operation requires careful judgment about what to take and what to leave.
How the Procedure Works
We work through small keyhole incisions for the camera and instruments. Before removing anything, we identify the tear pattern and probe its full extent. The principle is to trim back to a stable, smooth rim, not to remove the whole torn segment if only part of it is unstable. We make precise cuts at the edge of the tear, then smooth the contour with a small shaver.
We stop when the rim no longer catches or flips when probed and has no loose edges left to cause symptoms. How much meniscus is preserved depends entirely on the tear pattern. A small tear at the inner rim might need only a few millimeters trimmed. A complex degenerative tear may need more. Every millimeter of working rim that remains continues to share load and protect the cartilage beneath it.
When to Consider Partial Meniscectomy
Partial meniscectomy is generally offered when symptoms, imaging, and a trial of non-operative care together point to surgery as the next step. The typical picture includes:
Mechanical symptoms
Catching, locking, or pain with twisting that persists after a course of conservative care.
Unrepairable tear pattern
Complex, degenerative, or radial tears in the inner zone with no blood supply, where a repair would not heal.
Degenerative tears in older patients
Degenerative tears with preserved cartilage, where trimming the tear resolves the catching and pain.
Treats: Meniscus Tear
Risks & Why We Still Recommend It
Every operation carries risk. This procedure is offered because the condition, when left untreated, can cause a torn flap that keeps catching in the joint and stops the knee from bending or straightening smoothly. The decision to proceed weighs the risks of surgery against the limitations the condition places on daily function. Surgery does not remove risk; it addresses a problem that is otherwise progressive. Whether it is appropriate is determined for each patient in consultation with the surgeon.
The risks we discuss with patients before partial meniscectomy include:
- bleeding and infection
- anesthesia risk
- stiffness
- arthritis advancing in that part of the knee over time (an expected result of losing meniscus tissue, not a complication as such)
- blood clot in the leg or lung
We proceed when there is an unstable, catching tear that cannot be repaired and that is clearly the source of your symptoms. If the operation is not right for you, we will say so.
Frequently Asked
questions we hear in clinicWhy can't my tear just be stitched and repaired?
The outer third of the meniscus has a blood supply and can heal when stitched. The inner two-thirds get no direct blood supply and cannot knit back together after a tear, so a tear in that zone is not reliably repairable. The same is true when the tear pattern is too complex or too degenerated to hold stitches.
How much of my meniscus will be removed?
The least tissue that still ends the catching and pain. A small tear at the inner rim might need only a few millimeters trimmed; a complex degenerative tear may need more. We stop when the rim no longer catches or flips when probed and has no loose edges left.
Will this surgery give me arthritis later?
Losing meniscus tissue does have a cost: arthritis advancing in that part of the knee over time is an expected result, not a complication as such. That is exactly why the operation removes the least tissue possible, since every millimeter of remaining meniscus still shares load and protects the cartilage underneath.
How is the surgery done?
Through small keyhole incisions for the camera and instruments. Before removing anything, we identify the tear pattern and probe its full extent, then make precise cuts at the edge of the tear and smooth the contour with a small shaver.
Do I need this surgery right away?
Usually not. It is offered when symptoms, imaging, and a trial of non-operative care together point to surgery: catching, locking, or pain with twisting that persists after a course of conservative care.
Further Reading
External patient-education references and related OSI pages for additional background:
