Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair of Knee PreOp® Patient Education

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Your doctor has recommended that you have arthroscopic surgery in order to repair a torn meniscus in your knee. But what does that actually mean?

The knee is one of the most important and one of the most complex joints in your body.

It is made up of bone, ligament and cartilage. Damage to any individual part can dramatically restrict the normal movement of the leg and can even interfere with the ability to walk.

Let's take a look at the way the knee is put together. The femur, or thigh bone, meets the tibia to create a flexible joint called the knee.

Helping to stabilize the knee are flexible bands of tissue called ligaments.

Protecting the bony surfaces that rub together, are pads of tissue called cartilage.

Cartilage acts like a cushion. Without it, every time you bend at the knee, you would cause the major bones of the leg to grind together.

The meniscus is cartilage that not only protects the bone, but also acts like the leg's shock absorber.

Twisting or bending the knee during sports or even normal activity can damage the meniscus.

Symptoms include swelling, restricted movement, pain and even the inability to stand on the effected leg.

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On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown.
You may receive a sedative by mouth and
an intravenous line may be put in.
You will then be transferred to the operating table.
In the operating room, a nurse will begin preparation by clipping or shaving your leg.
The surgeon will then apply antiseptic solution to the skin around the knee...
... and then place a sterile drape around the operative site.
The anesthesiologist will begin to numb the lower body by injecting a drug into the small of your back.

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Before your doctor can insert the arthroscope,
the surgical team will inject a clear fluid into the joint. This fluid will inflate the interior space, and will help your doctor by providing an unobstructed view. Patient Education
Once in place the arthroscope...
will provide video images ...
so the surgeon can insert the instruments through one or more small openings.
After inspecting the extent of the damage to the meniscus, your doctor will repair the meniscus with tiny staples,
...or remove it altogether.
Finally, all the instruments are withdrawn...
and the clear fluid is allowed to drain from the knee.
Following surgery, sterile dressings are applied. To aid in healing, your knee may be stabilized with a brace and you will be encouraged to use crutches during the recovery process.

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Education

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• Meniscus
• Knee
• joint
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• cartilage
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• tibia
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[a1d3nh0]

Just got the results of my MRI scan and the doctor says I have a very large and complex tear in the meniscus. Hence me viewing this video. I've been prescribed strong painkillers and anti inflammatory drugs and I've to await a referral to my local hospital for an operation. I don't like the sound of having the epidural in my spine

[theluckster14]

I have a very minor tear in my knee of my meniscus do u guys think I'll need surgery (if there r any doctors it would be a huge help for u guys to reply)

[marmutgendut]

@Xvivident why dont u just go to the doctor and have a MRI..i just had my surgery 2 days ago,my case is kinda same from u, i can jogg n sprint but after a month i cant walk with out pain,better for u go to the doctor ASAP..

[Xvivident]

PLease someone respond me to this. idk if it was my meniscus but i feel a little pain when i twist my knee and the pain is somewhere inside it. I can jogg and sprint without pain but i cant straighten it as far as my other one. i really need some response to this bcuz i see my case is very different than everyone elses.

[oOElTigreOo]

@filahohi No, it's been since June for me so about 6 months now. I still can't jog without pain. I've read forums and such that say you don't completely heal sometimes. As least I don't feel pain when I walk now. I am hopeful that by January I will be able to carry a light jog. Just stay motivated and don't lose hope, goodluck.

[garywhitehead]

That has to be the most exciting background to any video

[101lolrockstar]

It's been like two weeks since my surgery

[focus471]

interesting video...Will have surgery for this problem soon..

[filahohi]

It's been nearly 7 months since I had my meniscus completely replaced and I still can't play sports. Is it that I'm a slow healer or is it possible that something is wrong with my knee ?

[miha4sora]

@MrRyany969 I used crutches for a while before the surgery so there was a time when I couldn't have any weight on my leg.I walked with crutches for about 3 weeks and the other 4 months I walked without them,but more like a gimp.The thing is I don't think they removed anything from my meniscus,they just cleaned all the blood and weird things that were flying around in my knee.I had more problems with the ligaments.The doctor said that if I don't have surgery,one day my knee will suddenly block