Arthroscopic Menisectomy

Overview

The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of tough cartilage that cushions and stabilises the knee, sitting between the thighbone and shinbone. There are two in each knee. A tear can occur from a twisting injury in sport or from gradual wear in an older knee, causing pain, swelling, and sometimes catching or locking. Arthroscopic meniscectomy is keyhole surgery to trim away the torn, unstable portion of the meniscus.

Through small incisions, the surgeon uses a camera (arthroscope) and fine instruments to remove only the damaged tissue while preserving as much healthy meniscus as possible. Where a tear is repairable, surgeons increasingly prefer to stitch it rather than remove it, to protect the knee long term.

This page is an educational overview only. It is not medical advice, and no surgical outcome can be guaranteed. Whether meniscus surgery is right for you can only be decided after evaluation by a qualified knee surgeon.

Who May Need This

Arthroscopic meniscectomy is usually considered for people with a symptomatic meniscus tear — particularly with mechanical symptoms such as locking, catching, or a knee that gives way — that has not settled with non-surgical care, and where the torn tissue is not suitable for repair.

For degenerative tears in knees with arthritis, non-surgical treatment is often tried first, as surgery may add little benefit. Candidacy depends on the tear type and location, your age and activity, and the state of the joint. Only a surgeon can determine the best option after assessment.

When It May Be Recommended

Surgery may be recommended when a tear causes persistent pain or true mechanical locking despite physiotherapy and activity modification, or when a torn flap is unstable. A locked knee that cannot fully straighten may need earlier surgery.

The decision weighs the likely benefit against the value of preserving meniscus tissue and any coexisting arthritis. The final recommendation depends on individual evaluation.

Diagnosis and Evaluation

Evaluation includes a history and examination with specific tests that stress the meniscus, checks for swelling, and assessment of range of motion. MRI shows the tear’s size, pattern, and location, and X-rays reveal any arthritis, which influences whether surgery is worthwhile.

Your general health and a medication review complete the assessment. Distinguishing a mechanical tear from arthritis pain is important, since it changes the recommended treatment.

Treatment Options

Options begin with non-surgical care: activity modification, physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles around the knee, anti-inflammatory medication, and sometimes injections, which help many tears — especially degenerative ones.

Surgical options are meniscectomy (trimming the torn part) or meniscus repair (stitching a repairable tear). Repair is preferred when the tear is in the outer, blood-supplied zone and the tissue is healthy. Your surgeon decides at the time based on what the tear looks like.

How It Is Performed

Knee arthroscopy is performed under general, spinal, or regional anaesthesia as a day case. Through two or three small incisions, the surgeon inserts the arthroscope and instruments, inspects the whole knee, and trims the torn meniscus back to a stable, smooth edge, removing as little tissue as possible. Any loose fragments are removed and the joint is washed out.

If the tear is repairable, the surgeon may place sutures or devices to hold it while it heals instead of removing it. The small incisions are closed with sutures or strips. The procedure commonly takes under an hour.

Preparation

Preparation typically includes pre-operative checks as needed, reviewing medications — especially blood thinners — with your doctor, and following fasting instructions. You will usually go home the same day.

Arrange transport home, crutches if advised, and a plan to elevate and ice the knee. If travelling abroad, allow for a short in-country stay and bring your MRI and records so the surgical team has your history.

Benefits and Expected Goals

The goals are to relieve pain and mechanical symptoms such as locking and catching and restore comfortable knee function. Because it is minimally invasive, recovery of the incisions is quick, and many people return to daily activities within weeks.

Benefits vary by individual and by the tear and any arthritis present. Removing meniscus reduces the knee’s cushioning, so surgeons remove as little as possible; for degenerative knees, benefit may be limited. Realistic expectations give the best satisfaction.

Risks and Possible Complications

Knee arthroscopy is generally very safe, but no surgery is risk-free.

• Infection or bleeding into the joint
• Blood clots in the leg or lung
• Persistent pain, swelling, or stiffness
• Injury to cartilage, nerves, or blood vessels (uncommon)
• Incomplete relief, or a repaired tear that fails to heal
• Higher long-term arthritis risk if a large amount of meniscus is removed

Your surgeon will explain the risks specific to your knee and health. Report spreading redness, drainage, fever, or calf swelling promptly.

Recovery, Follow-up & Aftercare

Recovery varies by patient. After meniscectomy, many people bear weight soon and progress through physiotherapy to restore motion and strength over a few weeks, returning to sport over several weeks. After meniscus repair, recovery is slower and more protected to allow healing.

Elevation, ice, and the exercise programme aid recovery. Attend follow-up appointments, and arrange rehabilitation and monitoring with your local doctor before travelling home.

Medical Tourism Planning

If you are considering knee arthroscopy abroad, choose a JCI- or ISO-accredited hospital with a knee surgeon. Because it is often a short day-case procedure, planning is simpler, but confirm how physiotherapy, suture removal, and any complications would be handled.

Plan for a short in-country stay, confirm your fitness to fly afterwards (long flights can raise clot risk), and arrange ongoing physiotherapy at home. Consider medical travel insurance, and request a written treatment plan and cost estimate before you travel.

Estimated Cost Factors

The cost depends on the country and hospital, surgeon’s fees, whether the tear is trimmed or repaired (repair devices add cost), anaesthesia, and physiotherapy. Treating other problems found in the knee affects the total.

Many international destinations offer arthroscopic surgery at a fraction of typical US prices, but figures vary widely by case. Online prices are only estimates — always request a personalized written quote for your specific situation before deciding.

Choosing a Hospital or Specialist

Look for recognised accreditation (JCI, ISO, or a strong national equivalent) and a surgeon with knee arthroscopy experience. Confirm board certification and ask about their approach to preserving or repairing meniscus rather than removing it.

Ask about international patient services, interpreter support, physiotherapy facilities, and the follow-up plan. Transparent written cost and treatment plans and clear communication are signs of a quality programme.

Alternatives

Alternatives include non-surgical management (physiotherapy, activity modification, medication, injections), which is often effective for degenerative tears, and meniscus repair for suitable tears, which preserves tissue. For knees with significant arthritis, treatment focuses on the arthritis itself.

Each option has different benefits, risks, and recovery. Discuss all of them with your surgeon so the plan fits your tear, activity level, and joint condition.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Is my tear repairable, or does it need trimming, and why?
• Do I have arthritis that might limit the benefit of surgery?
• How much meniscus is likely to be removed, and how might that affect my knee long term?
• What are the specific risks in my case?
• What does rehabilitation involve, and when can I return to activity?
• How long should I stay in-country, and when can I fly home?
• What is included in the written cost estimate?