Accessibility Tools

Rehabilitation after menisectomy

Rehabilitation after menisectomy (partial or total removal of the meniscus)

Rehabilitation after menisectomy (partial or total removal of the meniscus)

The meniscus is a dense cartilage tissue, located inside the knee joint between the hip bone (femur) and the sheen bone (tibia). Since it is a tissue very poor in blood supply, tears and traumas to it usually require surgical intervention, due to its poor ability to regenerate. Especially in vast tears.

These tears are divided into 2 groups: traumatic and degenerative tears. The traumatic tears, by their definition usually occur during a traumatic event such as a rotation injury, extreme squat or kneeling with over pressure. The pain sensation is immediate and difficulty to bear weight is eminent even though the swelling takes hours and sometimes a day or 2 to develop. Degenerative tears occur mostly in older population and are usually secondary to cartilage erosion of the joint surface, years of running with maladjusted foot wear, old traumas to the knee etc.

The surgery nowadays is being executed in an arthroscopic procedure and is considered a safe and very common in orthopedics. After the surgery, swelling and tenderness are eminent but usually subside in a short period of time. Despite its simplicity, it is still an invasive procedure and requires a rehabilitation period of 1-2 months. The treatment comprises of manual therapy, core strengthening, stretches, proprioception exercises (stability) and range of motion exercises. The treatment is crucial to ensure the return to normal and functional ranges of motion, strength, stability and prevention of intra-articular (inside the joint) adhesions that arise often after traumas such as surgery or the injury itself. These adhesions can limit the range of motion of the knee and if not treated, can limit it for a considerable length of time.