Playing contact sports like basketball or soccer puts you at a higher risk of a meniscus injury. Depending on its severity and location, rest and surgery are viable treatment options for your knee injury. If the injury is severe and in the innermost part of your knee, you can benefit from meniscectomy Chula Vista.
A meniscectomy aims to remove the damaged part of your meniscus, but if you have a severe injury, your specialist might remove the entire meniscus.
What is a meniscus tear?
A meniscus is the crescent-shaped cartilage tissue found between the bones in your knee and acts as a shock absorber. You can suffer from a meniscus tear if any damage happens to that tissue. You can be at risk of a meniscus injury if you engage in activities that require you to pivot at the knee, including contact sports.
Common symptoms of a meniscus injury include pain, stiffness, swelling, a locked knee, limited movement, difficulty extending your knee, and the feeling like your knee will give out. When you experience such symptoms, you must visit your specialist for an accurate diagnosis.
Your meniscus has two major parts; the red zone and the white zone. The red zone, the outermost part of the meniscus, receives a good supply of blood, and a minor tear can recover through rest. However, the white zone, the innermost part, receives a small amount of blood; usually, any injury requires surgery.
What happens during the procedure?
Your orthopedic surgeon will administer a numbing agent during the treatment to ensure your comfort. Using minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, they will make a tiny incision on your knee and insert the arthroscope to get a better view of your meniscus. The narrow instruments send images to an adjacent monitor to guide your surgeon.
During the examination of your injury, your surgeon checks the extension and location of your injury to determine what form of surgery to use. After examination, they will make another small incision to insert special surgical instruments and start the surgery. Depending on the severity of your injury, your specialist might remove the entire meniscus or the damaged parts only.
Recovery
Your recovery will depend on your keenness to follow your doctor’s instructions. Since you have incisions, you should keep the treatment area dry and shower 24 or 48 hours post-surgery. Your doctor will recommend getting a lot of rest and alleviating your knee to reduce swelling.
While rest is important, you can move with the help of crutches or a knee brace. Remember not to exert pressure on your knee, which can interfere with recovery. If you have a brace, wear it for the better part of your day to immobilize your knee and promote quick recovery.
If you have recently suffered a meniscus injury, visit Ortho 1 Medical Group for a meniscectomy. The orthopedic surgeons at the center will evaluate your symptoms before performing the procedure. Call or visit the facility to alleviate your symptoms and improve your daily performance.