Meniscal repair

Written by Dr Sheila Strover on March 14, 2025

Meniscal repair encompasses various techniques of surgically closing up a tear in the meniscus.

The 'outside-in' technique of meniscal repair.

One needle allow the sure to be passed through a retractable loop in the second suture

Suitability of a meniscus tear for repair

There are nowadays special instruments, sutures and fixation devices that make repair possible, but not all tears are suitable for repair.

The most suitable are likely to be longitudinal tears of the medial meniscus towards the outer rim of the meniscus where the blood supply is best.

"Meniscus surgery has come a long way from the old slogan, “If it is torn, take it out!” to the currently accepted slogan, “Save the meniscus!” which has guided evolving modern treatment methods for meniscal tears."

Mahmut Nedim Doral et al

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Techniques of meniscus repair

Techniques of meniscal repair include 'inside-out' repair, 'outside-in' repair and 'all-inside' repair.

This refers to the way in which the suture material is introduced through the cut surfaces and the suture tied off.

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How long is recovery after meniscus repair?

The recovery period after meniscal repair depends on the technique used, the extent and situation of the initial damage and how active the patient is during the recovery period.

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Outcomes of meniscal repair

In general outcomes of meniscal repair are good, with the majority of athletes being able to return to sport.

Occasionally the repair fails and may need revision. Sometimes there are complications, such as damage to superficial nerves and knee stiffness caused by local arthrofibrotic scar tissue..

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A-Z Keywords - Inside-out technique, Outside-in technique, All-inside technique, Meniscal fixation device, Meniscal repair augmentation

Interpretation of Journal publication - "2018 - Rehabilitation following meniscal repair: a systematic review

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