Meniscus repair versus removal: why we save tissue whenever we can
Twenty years ago, most meniscus tears were trimmed. The long-term outcomes data has changed how we approach the same injury today.
Samuel Howard, D.O.
Orthopedic surgery, sports medicine
The meniscus is the knee's shock absorber. We've known this for decades, but we've only recently begun to act on it consistently in the operating room.
When patients lose meniscus tissue — whether through injury or surgical removal — the cartilage underneath wears faster. That's not a hypothesis. It's what we see ten and twenty years out in patients who had aggressive meniscectomies in their twenties.
Today, our default is to repair the tissue whenever the tear pattern and biology allow it. The recovery is longer than a simple trim, but the knee that comes out the other side is meaningfully healthier.
The work that matters happens in the months before and after the operation — not just on the table.
If you have a question about anything in this post, the office line is the fastest way to reach the team. We're happy to talk through it.
