Orthopedics Hip & Knee Surgical Procedures Print Meniscectomy for a Torn Meniscus By Jonathan Cluett, MD Updated November 20, 2019 Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician A meniscectomy is a type of arthroscopic surgery used for treatment of a meniscus tear. Javier Larrea / Getty Images More in Orthopedics Hip & Knee Surgical Procedures Causes of Pain ACL Injury Kneecap (Patella) Conditions Knee Ligament Injuries Knee Replacement Surgery Meniscus Injuries Hip Injuries Hip Replacement Surgery Replacement Implants Sprains & Strains Fractures & Broken Bones Physical Therapy Orthopedic Surgery Osteoporosis Pediatric Orthopedics Sports Injuries Shoulder & Elbow Hand & Wrist Leg, Foot & Ankle Assistive Devices & Orthotics Medication & Injections View All When you have a torn meniscus in your knee, a meniscectomy may be recommended if you have symptoms of discomfort. Meniscectomy is an arthroscopic surgical procedure performed through small incisions with the aid of a small camera inserted into the joint. How Arthroscopy Works Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure that is used to look inside a joint. Through one small incision (about 1 centimeter) a small camera, about the size of a pencil, is inserted into the joint. Using one or more other small incisions, your surgeon places other instruments inside the knee to remove the torn cartilage. Incisions for arthroscopy are quite small, usually about 1 centimeter each. The incisions are closed with one suture that is either outside or underneath the skin. A bandage is placed over the arthroscopic incisions for at least a day or two to keep the incisions sterile. The torn meniscus can be removed using a number of instruments, including small shavers and scissors. The arthroscope will also allow your surgeon to inspect the rest of the knee joint, looking for signs of arthritis, loose pieces of cartilage in the knee, the ligaments of the knee, and other problems inside the joint. Does Arthroscopic Meniscectomy Hurt? Usually, minimal pain is associated with arthroscopic knee surgery. An anesthesiologist will be with you for the entire procedure to ensure you are comfortable. Following the procedure, you will be given instructions on what type of pain medicine to take if you do experience discomfort. Icing the knee is helpful for the first few days after surgery, as is keeping the knee elevated. There are several options, all of which can work for most arthroscopic procedures. These include: General Anesthesia: General anesthesia allows you to sleep through the procedure. An anesthesiologist monitors your breathing and vital signs throughout the surgery, and you are awakened once the procedure is completed.Regional Anesthesia: This includes epidural and spinal anesthesia. These options are acceptable for most types of knee arthroscopy. They allow patients to remain awake during the procedure.Local Anesthesia: Local anesthesia is an option for some types of knee arthroscopy. The surgery is usually done with light sedation, and the patient may require general anesthesia if the procedure becomes uncomfortable. Will I Need Crutches? For most arthroscopic knee procedures, crutches are given only for comfort. Once you feel steady on your feet, you can discontinue use of the crutches. However, some procedures, such as ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair, may require longer use of crutches. Always check with your doctor before discontinuing crutch use. Rehab After Meniscectomy Surgery Patients who undergo arthroscopic knee surgery for treatment of a meniscus tear can usually return to normal activities quite quickly. Most patients take a few days or a long weekend off work. If the meniscus is removed (partial meniscectomy), then there are usually few activity restrictions. Patients can walk and move normally, so long as they don't have pain. It depends on your comfort level. For most meniscectomies, patients can resume their activities as tolerated. For most patients, this means returning to normal walking within a few days to a week, returning to jogging within a month, and returning to sports within 4 to 8 weeks. Some patients take longer, others are quicker. You must check with your doctor about your specific rehabilitation, as there may be reasons to protect your knee for a longer period of time. Only your doctor can tell you exactly what your specific rehab should be. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic. Knee arthroscopy. Jeong HJ, Lee SH, Ko CS. Meniscectomy. Knee Surg Relat Res. 2012;24(3):129-36. doi:10.5792/ksrr.2012.24.3.129 Cleveland Clinic. Meniscal tears. Anetzberger H, Birkenmaier C, Lorenz S. Meniscectomy: Indications, procedure, outcomes, and rehabilitation. Dovepress. 2013;2014:1-9. doi:10.2147/ORR.S54669 Additional Reading Greis PE, et al. "Meniscal Injury: II. Management" J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg., May/June 2002; 10: 177 - 187. Continue Reading