When a knee joint is healthy, it has two C-shaped cartilage-like structures (meniscuses). The medial meniscus is on the inside of the knee, and the lateral meniscus is on the outside. The meniscus is smooth, flexible, and rubbery and provides stability and shock-absorbing protection to the valuable hyaline cartilage that lines the joint. Research says meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries, affecting approximately 1 million people in the U.S. annually. The meniscus can tear from an acute injury, trauma to the knee, or arthritis (loss of hyaline cartilage). If you require meniscal surgery in Monterey, CA, Dr. Michael Klassen can prepare you for what to expect during a visit to our office.
What Is Knee Meniscal Surgery?
Knee meniscal surgery occurs when a doctor removes the damaged portion of the meniscus tissue during a minimally invasive procedure. If patients continue to have knee pain and instability after non-surgical interventions, such as anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, and physical therapy, they may require knee meniscal surgery. But Dr. Klassen emphasizes that surgery might not be the first option. Following knee meniscal surgery in Monterey, CA, most patients can regain their pre-injury abilities with the proper treatment and rehabilitation. Meniscal repair recovery takes three to six months and requires ongoing physical therapy, whereas meniscectomy (meniscus removal or resection) recovery takes three to six weeks. Dr. Klassen will discuss the procedure and recovery in detail during your consultation.
If you experience new, severe, or persistent symptoms pertaining to pain in the knee while running, walking, twisting, or rotating; difficulty extending the knee; feel fluid accumulation, have swelling, stiffness, or a locked sensation in the knee, consult with Dr. Michael Klassen to discuss your candidacy for meniscal surgery Monterey, CA. For questions, more information about meniscal surgery in Monterey, CA, or to schedule an appointment, call (831) 900-5115.