Meniscus injuries regularly occur in accidents or during sport. Long-term signs of wear and tear also lead to impairments. Meniscus tears are among the most common injuries to the knee. Meniscus suturing, a minimally invasive surgical procedure , can help.
You can find more information about this surgical procedure and specialists for meniscus suturing here.
Meniscus suturing is a minimally invasive surgical procedure on the meniscus. It is also known as meniscus refixation (from Latin: re = again, figere = to fix) and is particularly suitable for fresh meniscus tears. During the operation itself, the doctor fixes the meniscus tear with a special suture system.
The aim of the operation is to fully preserve the functionality of the meniscus and minimize the risk of consequential damage. The meniscus suture also protects against premature joint wear.
The operation itself does not involve opening your knee. Instead, the surgeon uses arthroscopy. This is a gentle method of operating on your knee.
The main reasons for meniscus suture surgery are
However, the main aim of meniscus refixation is to prevent osteoarthritis: suturing the meniscus reduces the risk of long-term damage to the articular cartilage in the knee joint (knee osteoarthritis).
Knee arthroscopy is both a diagnostic and surgical procedure.
Depending on the findings, meniscus refixation is performed either under spinal or general anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
If there are important reasons (pre-existing conditions, risks, concomitant injuries, etc.) that prevent outpatient treatment, it can also be performed on an inpatient basis.
During arthroscopy, two small openings are required in the knee joint. The surgeon inserts a small camera and the suture material through these so-called keyholes.
Which surgical procedure makes sense depends on where and how the meniscus is torn. The specialist who performs the operation is a trauma surgeon. Usually in combination with orthopaedics and a specialization in knee surgery.
The following methods are used:
The all-inside technique enables meniscus suturing without the need for an additional incision. Your doctor places two small anchors (barbs) behind the base of the meniscus on the joint capsule. A knot is placed in front of them to secure the suture. The technique is considered stable, but is not suitable for every tear. The meniscus suture is mainly suitable for the posterior parts of the menisci, where most tears are found.
With the outside-in technique, your doctor sticks needles from the outside through the skin into the inside of the knee. He pulls the suture material through and knots it in front of the capsule of your joint. This technique is mainly used for tears in the anterior part of the menisci.
The inside-out technique is suitable for tears that are more difficult to access. Here, your doctor uses a curved, longer needle. He guides the suture thread inside the joint through the meniscus to the outside. He makes a small incision in the skin, which he uses to tie the suture.
In a meniscus tear, the meniscus is either torn in various places or completely severed @ bilderzwerg / AdobeStock
The most important follow-up treatment is about three months of physiotherapy.
A rest period is also required, which lasts around 3-6 months. Stress sports, which include all stop-and-go sports, cannot be practiced during this time.
Sports that are easy on the joints such as cycling, swimming and going to the gym are permitted again from the seventh week.
Depending on the type of operation, you may only put limited weight on your knee for four to six weeks. When bending your knee, it is important to limit the amount of strain you put on it.
If you have a physically demanding job , your doctor will write you off work. This is usually between two weeks and two months.
In rare cases, the meniscus suture can tear. This would result in a repeat operation.
All other complications occur extremely rarely during this routine procedure and are complications that can generally occur during surgery:
From a clinical point of view, the success rate is 85 percent. However, the individual development of each patient depends on the findings and the duration of the injury. It depends on the initial situation, so to speak: Is the injury due to an accident or is it due to wear and tear?
Other factors such as age, body weight and general physical condition are also decisive for long-term treatment success.
A straight leg axis is also important in order to rule out further meniscus tears.
A tear in your meniscus can be treated well with meniscus suturing. This routine operation makes sense so that your knee joint regains full mobility. The procedure also helps to prevent osteoarthritis in the long term and leads to a pain-free knee joint after an injury.
The Leading Medicine Guide's quality assurance is ensured by the following acceptance prerequisites.
