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What is Meniscus Root Repair?

Meniscus root repair is a surgery performed to repair a torn meniscus root. Meniscal repair may be performed either by open surgery under direct vision or minimally invasively using an arthroscope that can be inserted into the knee through a very small key-hole incision to locate and repair the damaged meniscus.

Meniscal root tears are characterized as soft tissue or bony root avulsion injuries or radial tears located within 1 cm of the meniscus root attachment. They can be either a tear which disconnects the root area completely from the body of the meniscus (complete radial tear) or a disruption of the meniscus attachment directly from the bone (true meniscus root tear) that can cause the whole meniscus to lose its capacity to safeguard the underlying cartilage.

Meniscal root tears are one of the most common injuries to the knee joint. They occur in younger patients as a result of high energy trauma, but most cases occur in individuals above the age of 40 years following a minor traumatic event due to degeneration of the meniscus with age. A torn meniscus causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and a catching or locking sensation in your knee making you unable to move your knee through its complete range of motion.

Anatomy of Meniscus

The meniscus is a small, "C" shaped piece of cartilage in the knee joint. Each knee has two menisci, the medial meniscus on the inner aspect of the knee and the lateral meniscus on the outer aspect of the knee. The medial and lateral menisci act as a cushion between the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). The main function of the menisci is to improve load transmission. A fairly round femur sits on a fairly flat tibia to form the knee joint. Without the menisci, the area of contact force between these 2 bones would be small, increasing the contact stress. The menisci also provide lubrication, shock absorption, and joint stability.

Preparation for Meniscus Root Repair

Preoperative preparation for meniscus root repair will involve the following steps:

  • Depending on your medical history, social history, and age, you may need to undergo tests such as blood work and imaging to help detect any abnormalities that could threaten the safety of the procedure.
  • You should refrain from alcohol or tobacco at least a week prior to surgery.
  • Arrange for someone to drive you home as you will not be able to drive yourself after surgery.

Procedure for Meniscus Root Repair

Meniscus root repair is most commonly performed arthroscopically under regional anesthesia. Surgical management involves either repairing by stitching the root of the meniscus or trimming the root of the meniscus and reestablishing the connection with the bone. Suturing or repairing the meniscus root will need a period of 4 to 6 weeks of crutch use as well as physical therapy. Surgery is arthroscopic in either situation.

In general, the arthroscopic procedure will involve the following steps:

  • After adequately sterilizing the surgical area, your surgeon makes 2 to 3 small key-hole incisions around the knee.
  • An arthroscope, a narrow tube with a tiny video camera on the end, is inserted through one of the incisions to view the knee joint. The scope is connected to an external video monitor and the structures inside the knee are displayed in the monitor for your surgeon to view.
  • Small miniature instruments are inserted through other small incisions and the supporting structures of the knee are gently moved out of the way to access the torn meniscus root area.
  • The extent of meniscus root damage and severity of the injury is assessed, and suitable repair is carried out accordingly.
  • Once the repair is complete, the scope and instruments are withdrawn, and the incision is closed and covered with a bandage.

Postoperative Care and Recovery

In general, postoperative care instructions and recovery after meniscus root repair will involve the following steps:

  • Antibiotics may be prescribed to address the risk of surgery-related infection.
  • You will be placed on crutches with instructions on restricted weight-bearing. You are encouraged to walk with assistance as frequently as possible to prevent blood clots.
  • An individualized physical therapy protocol may be designed to help strengthen your knee muscles and optimize knee function.
  • You will be able to resume your normal activities in a couple of months; however, return to sports may take 4 to 6 months.

Risks and Complications


  • Infection
  • Hemarthrosis (bleeding inside a joint)
  • Arthrofibrosis (thick fibrous material around the joint)
  • Damage to nerves and blood vessels
  • Blood clots or deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Allergic or anesthetic reactions