Possibilities of the operation | Surgical options for meniscus tears

Possibilities of the operation

Nowadays, total removal is only initiated in cases of very extensive meniscus damage. The aim is to avoid removing the “buffer” between the two bony parts of the joint, since studies have shown that this is one of the causes of early arthrosis (= wear and tear of the joint). This procedure is mainly used for so-called grade II lesions, but also for partial tears in the area of the meniscus base.

Diseased parts of the meniscus are surgically “pricked” with a hollow needle. This is to achieve the sprouting of new blood vessels and thus promote healing. As already described in the context of meniscus suturing, the wound edges are “refreshed”.

This is usually done by motor-driven milling. The aim is to regenerate the meniscus tissue or to achieve scarred healing. This technique is also often used in combination with a resection.

Aftercare

The type and manner of post-treatment can be designed in different ways, and there are different expert opinions on this. 1. immobilization by plaster with relief or partial load2. Early functional aftercare Whereas immobilization with plaster was the preferred method in the past, nowadays people tend to opt for so-called “early functional aftercare”. This implies:

• A partial load by a splint over a period of about 14 days.
• Strengthening of the musculature through tension exercises and physiotherapy.
• As a rule, flexion of up to 120° with free extension can then be achieved from the 9th week onwards.
• Sport can be considered after about 6 months.

Duration of meniscus surgery

The duration of a meniscus operation also depends on various factors.Both the type and extent of the injury and the surgical procedure performed play a decisive role in this context. In addition, the preparation of the patient and the anaesthetic induction are added to the scheduled duration of the meniscus surgery. The actual meniscus surgery takes only a certain part of the estimated duration.

Furthermore, the duration of a meniscus operation can vary greatly from patient to patient. Even with the same clinical picture and extent of the disease and the same surgical procedure, the anatomical conditions of the individual patient play an important role. Before the anaesthetic is administered, the patient must fast for a period of six to eight hours.

This means that he or she must not consume any food or liquid. The induction of general anesthesia and the preparation of the patient can be expected to take 15 to 20 minutes. However, this time can be significantly longer due to problems with intubation or the placement of the venous accesses. The actual meniscus operation then takes about 30 to 60 minutes. However, even this time can be quickly exceeded due to difficult anatomical conditions or intraoperative complications.