Meniscectomy is a surgical procedure performed by orthopedic surgeons, including those at Ortho Miami, to treat a torn meniscus in the knee. The meniscus is a C-shaped cartilage that acts as a cushion and stabilizer within the knee joint. When a meniscus tear occurs due to injury or degeneration, it can cause pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
When it comes to serious knee injuries, two conditions stand above the rest: a torn ACL and a torn meniscus. Both injuries can arise from the same kind of traumatic, sudden, and unnatural movement or impact involving the knee, such as:
- Suddenly stopping, slowing down, or changing direction (cutting)
- Pivoting with a firmly planted foot
- Landing hard and awkwardly after a jump
- Receiving a direct blow to the knee
This is why so many athletes, especially in sports like football and basketball, experience meniscus injuries. But it isn’t just athletes who tear their meniscus. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, over 500,000 Americans have meniscal tears each year.
Fortunately, advances in arthroscopic surgery have made repairing meniscus tears through a procedure called a meniscectomy routine and effective. We perform scores of meniscectomies at OrthoMiami every year, restoring strength, mobility, and functionality after a meniscus injury.
What Is the Meniscus?
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that serves as a cushion between your thighbone and shinbone. Each knee joint contains two menisci: the lateral meniscus, near the outer edge of the knee joint, and the medial meniscus, located near the edge on the inside of the knee
Your menisci help your knee joints function by:
- distributing your weight over a larger area, allowing your knees to hold up your weight
- providing lubrication
- stabilizing the joint
- acting as a shock absorber
What Is a Meniscectomy?
A meniscectomy is a type of surgery that we use to treat a damaged meniscus.
The goal of the procedure is to remove fragments of the meniscus that stick out into the joint since they can interfere with joint movement and cause the knee to lock.
Minor tears can often heal independently without surgery, but surgical repair is usually required for more severe tears.
Most meniscectomies we perform involve arthroscopic surgery. We can assess and treat meniscus injuries using this technique without the long incisions and scars associated with traditional surgery. Arthroscopic surgeries are outpatient procedures, often performed using only local anesthesia, with quicker and smoother recovery than with invasive surgical procedures.
Knee Injury? Schedule an Appointment at OrthoMiami Today
While a torn meniscus is a serious injury, in most cases we can fully repair the damaged ligament with minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery on an outpatient basis followed by rehabilitation and physical therapy. At OrthoMiami, Miami’s leading orthopedic surgeon, Cesar E. Ceballos, MD, can diagnose the nature and extent of your knee injury. If, in fact, you tore your meniscus, he can provide you with the care and treatment that will have you back on your feet as quickly as possible.
As an all-inclusive orthopedic facility, OrthoMiami can get patients their essential imaging, required surgery, and critical follow-up care, including physical therapy, all in one convenient office. The OrthoMiami team always welcomes new patients and can generally schedule new patient appointments within a couple of days.
Please contact us today at (305) 596-2828 to schedule your appointment. We look forward to meeting you.
