Recovering from Meniscus Surgery

For patients who are candidates for conservative treatment, the focus of care will be on reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation, while also improving overall stability and function of the knee. Typically, if conservative treatment is successful, patients will experience significant relief after approximately 6-8 weeks of treatment.

After an arthroscopic debridement or partial meniscectomy, you will rely on crutches for the first few days after surgery based off your level of pain. A short course of physical therapy will begin the day after surgery. Patients usually continue physical therapy for about 4-8 weeks following surgery depending on how quickly their strength and function is restored. Patients usually return to normal daily activities within a week of surgery. However, it can take up to a month to return to pre-injury activities and sports.

After Dr. Chahla performs a meniscus repair, the meniscus requires 3-4 months to heal. Following a meniscus repair, patients will begin physical therapy the day after surgery. The goal of physical therapy includes quadriceps re-activation, range of motion, gait mechanics, and strength restoration. Patients will typically be allowed to progressively return to running at 4 months post-op with anticipation of full recovery from surgery approximately 6 months after surgery.

It is important to note that immediately after a meniscus repair, Dr. Chahla will recommend a period of non-weightbearing. The length of this time period will depend on the type of meniscus repair that is repaired:

• Degenerative, Horizontal Cleavage, Vertical/Longitudinal, Oblique Tears: 2 weeks non-weightbearing post-op.
• Root, Radial, Bucket Handle Tears: 6 weeks non-weightbearing post-op.

Meniscal repairs tend to heal well when the tear occurs in the peripheral regions of the meniscus (zones 1 and 2 of the meniscus). This is due to the higher blood supply, and thus, healing potential, of the peripheral meniscus. Classically, it has been thought that tears in the central regions of the meniscus do poorly with meniscal repair due to their limited healing ability. While this is true, there is evidence to suggest that meniscal repair can be successful in the more central meniscal regions with less healing potential (zone 3 of the meniscus). Other reasons that may impact the success of meniscal healing include a patient’s age, general health, BMI, and willingness to comply with a postoperative rehabilitation regimen. More recent evidence suggests that patients in their 50s and patients with a BMI below 35 can successfully undergo meniscal repair so long as the patient is compliant with post-operative instructions and rehabilitation.

If you suspect you have a meniscus injury or are experiencing knee pain, contact Dr. Chahla today to schedule a knee evaluation. Dr. Jorge Chahla is a sports medicine orthopedic complex knee surgeon in Chicago, Illinois who specializes in the treatment of complex knee injuries and meniscus injuries. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of sports medicine and is a pioneer in novel therapies, including meniscal repair and knee joint preservation. Dr. Chahla’s focus is on customized and personalized care to meet the needs of each of his patients. He uses minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures to preserve the natural joint and reduce recovery time to accelerate his patients’ return to the activities they love.