Meniscectomy

Surgeon performing arthroscopic surgery, where small instruments are passed into the knee joint under camera visualisation.

Illustration of arthroscopic surgery where a light source is passed into the knee cavity, and instruments inserted via a different portal to deal with the issue.

How is a meniscectomy performed?

Meniscectomy is usually performed via the arthroscope (keyhole surgery). Small holes (portals) are made into the knee joint and it is distended with clear fluid, and fine instruments passed into the cavity.

An image is relayed via a tiny camera onto a monitor which the surgeon can see. The damaged tissue is removed.

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Full or partial meniscectomy

The outer rim of the meniscus is particular important in protecting the cartilage surfaces of the knee joint.

If the meniscus, including the outer rim, is removed then the procedure is a full meniscectomy, and the knee will be structurally compromised. If only part of the meniscus is trimmed away, then that is a partial meniscectomy - it depends upon how much is removed whether the function is much compromised or not.

Sometimes a frayed meniscus edge is simply trimmed - and this is unlikely to affect the knee much.

"...degenerative changes after meniscectomy can be prevented or delayed by preserving normal tissue as much as possible with minimal resection of the meniscus."

Hwa-Jae Jeong et al