Meniscus Repair
Arthroscopic meniscus repair with Dr. Steven Ward in Tucson and Oro Valley — stitching a torn meniscus so it can heal and keep cushioning the knee, most often for younger, active patients.
Call 520-881-1394Typical ranges for general education. Dr. Ward’s plan for you may differ.
What it treats
Repairing the meniscus, instead of trimming it, keeps the cushion between the femur and tibia. That protects the joint cartilage and helps stability. Trimming a tear that could have healed puts more pressure on the cartilage and can lead to earlier arthritis.
- Tears in the outer part of the meniscus, which has a good blood supply and can heal after repair
- Longitudinal and bucket-handle tears that run along the fibers of the meniscus
- Root tears, where the meniscus detaches from its anchor on the tibia
- Tears that happen along with an ACL injury
The best candidates are active people with little or no arthritis. Repairs rarely succeed in knees with moderate to severe arthritis.
Is surgery right for you?
Physical therapy and a steroid injection can ease symptoms, but they do not fix the tear. Whether to repair depends on:
- The tear’s type, size, and location, and the quality of the meniscus
- Your age, activity level, and goals
- Whether arthritis is present
Repair takes longer to recover from than trimming, but it can protect the knee over the long term. The final decision is made during arthroscopy, once Dr. Ward can see the tear. He will talk with you beforehand about what happens if the tear turns out not to be repairable. If you smoke, stopping at least 6 weeks before surgery improves the chance of healing.
How the surgery is done
Meniscus repair is usually an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour, with a nerve block, sedation, or general anesthesia. The technique depends on the tear:
- All-inside repair — a device passes stitches through the meniscus entirely from inside the joint
- Inside-out repair — stitches are passed from inside the knee and tied through a small extra incision on the side of the knee
- Root repair — stitches are pulled through a small tunnel in the tibia to re-anchor the meniscus
Repairs done with an ACL reconstruction
Meniscus tears often happen with an ACL tear, and the repair is done during the same surgery. Recovery then follows the combined plan. See ACL reconstruction for that surgery.
Recovery overview
Typical ranges only. Your plan depends on the tear and repair type, and Dr. Ward’s plan for you may differ.
Weeks 0–6
- Depending on the repair, you may be allowed full weight with the leg straight, or you may use crutches to limit weight at first; root repairs usually need longer on crutches
- A brace may be used to protect the repair
- Knee motion is increased gradually during the first 6 weeks
- Deep squatting and loaded deep bending are usually restricted early to protect the stitches
Months 2–4
- Normal walking without crutches
- Strengthening is added gradually once initial healing is complete
- Low-impact conditioning as your therapist directs
Months 4–6 and beyond
- Rehabilitation typically takes 3–6 months
- Return to your normal level of activity is expected around 6 months, when the meniscus is fully healed
- Competitive athletes may take longer to be cleared for full play
When to call the clinic
Call 520-881-1394 if you notice any of the following after surgery or while you are recovering:
- A fever of 101°F or higher, or chills
- Redness spreading around an incision, or drainage that is cloudy, foul-smelling, or keeps soaking the dressing after the first few days
- New or worsening numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg or foot once the anesthesia has worn off, or a foot that turns pale, blue, or cold
- Pain that is not controlled by your prescribed medication, ice, elevation, and rest
- Pain, swelling, or tenderness in the calf that is new or getting worse
It is normal for the knee to be swollen, bruised, and sore for a while, and for the leg to feel numb or weak until a nerve block or spinal anesthetic wears off. Use your crutches, walker, or brace as directed. Call if something feels different from what you were told to expect.
for chest pain, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing. These can be signs of a blood clot in the lungs and need emergency care.
If something does not match the instructions you were given, call the office. Dr. Ward or one of his physician assistants will get back to you.
Related resources
Meniscus Tear Handout
Dr. Ward’s two-page printable guide to meniscus tears: how the meniscus works, the types of tears, and when trimming or repair may help.
Open PDFKnee arthroscopy & meniscus resection
Dr. Ward’s knee arthroscopy page, including his meniscus resection rehab protocol.
Open pageACL reconstruction
Graft choices, surgery day, and return-to-sport timing after ACL reconstruction.
Open pageKnee post-op hub
Knee arthroscopy and knee replacement packets, rehab protocols, and anatomy guides.
Open pageExercise guides
Printable home exercise programs to use with your physical therapist.
Open pageOrthoInfo: Meniscus repair
Patient education on meniscus repair from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
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