Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair | Turan & Turan Clinic, Turkey

Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries. Although they are more common in people who play sports, meniscal tears can happen to anyone, including children. While a hard tackle on the football field can cause a meniscus tear, standing up too quickly from a crouching position and making sudden movements can also cause a meniscus tear (more common in the elderly). Pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee, as well as difficulty fully extending the knee, are some of the symptoms of a torn meniscus. Arthroscopic meniscus repair is a surgical procedure used to treat tears in the meniscus, the C-shaped cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber and helps stabilize the joint. Meniscus repair allows the knee to regain its normal anatomy and, if successful, provides good long-term results. Our team exclusively uses minimally invasive methods of surgical intervention in the form of arthroscopic meniscus repair. During knee arthroscopy, the healthy tissues, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves around the knee joint are not damaged, so the recovery period is more accessible and less painful. During knee arthroscopy, small skin incisions several millimeters long are made in two places on the knee. Pen-sized video cameras called arthroscopes and other surgical instruments are inserted into the knee joint through these incisions. The arthroscope sends an image to a screen that allows the surgeon to see inside the joint, including the damaged meniscus. The range of movements of the arthroscope restores the structure of damaged structures, even in hard-to-reach places, without much effort. Depending on the type and location of the tear, the surgeon will use different methods to repair the meniscus: suturing the torn edges with sutures or anchors (made of biocompatible materials that do not need to be removed), cutting the damaged tissue, or removing the loose fragments. Because smaller surgical incisions are made and healthy tissue is preserved compared to open surgery, postoperative recovery is faster, and patients can return to their daily lives sooner. The risk of possible complications after arthroscopic surgery is lower than with traditional surgery, and if complications do occur, they are usually easily treated. Most patients can expect a gradual return to normal activities over several weeks to months, with full recovery usually taking several months. Orthopedic doctors and physiotherapists inform the patient about the exercises that should be performed after discharge. Following the surgeon's instructions carefully after surgery is essential to optimize healing and prevent complications.