Arthroscopic Repair of Torn Meniscus The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of fibrous cartilage that is located at the inner and outer aspect of each knee joint. Most of the meniscus has little or no blood supply. This prevents it from healing itself when torn due to trauma or a degenerative process. The torn pieces of the damaged meniscus move abnormally inside the joint and may become caught between the bones of the joint (femur and tibia). The result is a knee that is painful, swollen, and difficult to move. When the meniscus tear is along the outer aspect of the tissue where a blood supply is present (called the menisco-capsular junction), it may be possible to arthroscopically repair the torn meniscus. The procedure may be done in an outpatient surgical center under local anesthesia with IV sedation, or under general anesthesia with the patient asleep. A small fiberoptic telescope (arthroscope) is inserted by the orthopedic surgeon into the affected joint. The arthroscopic surgery camera shows a picture of the inside of the joint on a television monitor. Very small instruments are inserted through incisions that are approximately 1/8 inch long. The orthopedic surgeon examines the damaged meniscus through the arthrosocope and determines if the tear is repairable or if it should be removed. Recovery time for meniscal repair through arthroscopic surgery may be longer than for arthroscopic removal of a torn meniscus. Incisions are often larger, and physical therapy must be slower and more cautious. Patients generally remain on crutches for several weeks, and complete healing may take several months. Because the physician cannot control whether the body will heal from the repair of a torn meniscus, the arthroscopic procedure may need to be repeated if healing does not occur. Patients should consult their surgeon for a complete explanation of the procedure and its associated risks and complications.