The knee is the largest joint in your body and one of the most complex. It is comprised of the lower leg bone (the tibia), the thigh bone (the femur) and the knee cap (the patella), as well as multiple tendons, muscles, ligaments and cartilage that connect at the knee.
It is responsible for supporting most of your body weight, making it susceptible to various types of damage and injury.
If you have a painful condition to the knee that does not respond well to conservative treatment, there are various surgical options available to you, depending on your knee injury.
Meniscectomy: If you have pain and swelling in the knee, you might have a meniscus tear. The meniscus is the shock-absorbing wedge of cartilage that sits on the tibia in the knee to provide a cushion with impact.
In a Meniscectomy, the portion of the torn meniscus is removed via arthroscopy. In arthroscopy, small incisions are made on the knee to allow a small camera and tool to safely complete the surgery.
Meniscus Repair: In some instances, the meniscus tear is in a portion of the meniscus that has good blood supply. Therefore, the doctor may choose to complete a repair of the torn meniscus, via a meniscectomy.
This may be more beneficial to the patient, as it could decrease their risk of future arthritis by not having to remove a portion of the meniscus, but the recovery is typically longer.
Meniscus Transplant: A transplant occurs in a patient who has had complete removal of the meniscus, and continues to have knee pain. It constitutes placing a meniscus from a donor patient into the knee of the patient. This is also completed via arthroscopy.
