In short
The meniscus is the knee's shock absorber, and how a tear is treated has consequences that play out over decades — not just weeks.
Each knee has two menisci — C-shaped wedges of cartilage that spread load across the joint, add stability and protect the underlying surfaces. Losing meniscal tissue increases the pressure on the joint surface, which is why preserving it matters.
Two very different kinds of tear
Traumatic tears occur in younger, active knees, usually from twisting with the foot planted. These are often repairable.
Degenerative tears occur in older knees as the meniscus becomes brittle with age, sometimes without any memorable injury. These frequently coexist with early arthritis, and the tear may not be the main source of the pain at all.
Symptoms
- Pain along the inner or outer joint line
- Swelling that develops over a day rather than immediately
- Catching or clicking with movement
- True locking — the knee physically getting stuck and not straightening
- Difficulty squatting or twisting
The three treatment paths
Rehabilitation
For degenerative tears without locking, structured physiotherapy performs as well as arthroscopic surgery in high-quality trials. Strengthening the quadriceps and hip muscles reduces the load through the joint and often settles symptoms.
Meniscal repair
Stitching the tear so it can heal. Possible when the tear is in the outer vascular zone and the pattern is suitable. Recovery is longer and protected — often crutches and restricted bending for around six weeks — but the meniscus is preserved.
Partial meniscectomy
Trimming away the torn fragment. Recovery is quick and relief of mechanical symptoms is usually immediate. The trade-off is permanent loss of meniscal tissue, which increases contact pressure in the joint and is associated with a higher risk of arthritis over the long term.
How the decision is made
Age, activity level, tear location and pattern, the state of the surrounding cartilage and whether the knee is locking all feed into the choice. In a young athlete with a repairable tear, repair is usually worth the slower recovery. In an older knee with degenerative change and no locking, rehabilitation is often the right first step.
Our team will explain which category your tear falls into and why a particular approach is being recommended.
Frequently asked questions
Can a meniscus tear heal on its own?+
Only tears in the outer third, which has a blood supply, have real healing potential. Tears in the inner two-thirds do not heal, though symptoms can still settle with rehabilitation even when the tear remains.
Is it better to repair or trim?+
Repair preserves the meniscus and is preferred wherever the tear pattern and location allow it, particularly in younger patients. Trimming gives faster relief but removes tissue that protects the joint long term.
What if I do nothing?+
Many degenerative tears in older knees settle with physiotherapy and cause no long-term problem. A tear causing true locking is different and needs treatment.
This article is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot account for your individual circumstances. Please consult a qualified orthopaedic specialist about your own symptoms before making treatment decisions.
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