Knee Surgery Cartilage Removal

A meniscectomy is a procedure where cartilage is removed from the knee. This procedure is performed to help people with a torn meniscus, a common injury that occurs in the padding to the knee. While a meniscectomy is not needed for every torn meniscus, your doctor will help you evaluate whether the procedure is correct for you.

Function

• Your surgeon will recommend removal of cartilage based on the location, size and pattern of the tear. Also taken into consideration are your age and overall health of your knee. Pain and inflammation is a sign that pieces of the meniscus are causing the problem and need to be removed. Once the cartilage is taken out, the surgeon will then smooth down the edges of the remaining cartilage. It is important the doctor save as much as the undamaged cartilage as possible because it will help with preserving the knee's health in the future.

Success

• According to the Mayo Clinic, meniscectomies are a good and reliable way to treat a torn meniscus and prevent future pain. While a full meniscectomy will take longer to heal and is less stable than a partial meniscectomy, a large number of people who undergo the procedure still are pain free for years after surgery. Recovery time is something to consider as people who get partial meniscectomies will recover much quicker and be able to resume normal activities before those who get a full meniscectomy.

Risks

• In most cases, meniscectomies are well tolerated surgeries with minimal complications. In very rare instances some nerves may be damaged during the procedure. After the surgery, your knee may feel strange as the amount of weight it is able to sustain will be different. You will be using different parts of your knee, so walking may be difficult at first. As in any other surgery, there are risks for bleeding and infections during meniscectomies.