Why Meniscus Repair (Not Removal) Often Matters — And How New Stitches Make Repair Possible

Why Preserving the Meniscus Matters for Knee Health

The meniscus is a critical piece of cartilage in the knee joint that acts as a shock absorber. It helps distribute weight evenly across the joint, reducing the pressure on the bones. When the meniscus is torn—whether from a sports injury, a fall, or even just wear and tear over time—it can cause pain, swelling, and instability.

For many years, the standard treatment for a meniscus tear was to remove the damaged tissue through a procedure known as a meniscectomy. While this approach could offer short-term relief, it often led to more problems down the road. As medical understanding has evolved, so too has our approach to treating meniscus tears. Today, preserving the meniscus through repair has become the preferred treatment, thanks to advanced surgical techniques like the circumferential compression stitch.

In this article, we will explore why it’s so important to preserve the meniscus whenever possible and how modern surgical advancements, including the circumferential compression stitch, are making that goal more achievable than ever before.

What Happens When the Meniscus Is Removed?

The meniscus plays an essential role in the health of your knee. By cushioning the bones and distributing forces evenly across the joint, it helps reduce friction and prevent wear on the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces. When part of the meniscus is removed, even if it’s a small amount, the knee no longer has the same level of protection. This can cause a number of problems over time:

• Increased pressure on the cartilage: Without the meniscus, there’s less shock absorption, which increases pressure on the articular cartilage, potentially leading to its wear and tear.
  
• Early osteoarthritis: Removing the meniscus leads to a higher likelihood of developing osteoarthritis in the knee. Without proper cushioning, the bones rub together more often, causing joint degeneration over time.
  
• Loss of knee stability: The meniscus also plays a role in stabilizing the knee joint, particularly during twisting motions. Removing it can compromise knee function and increase the risk of further injury.

While meniscectomy may provide temporary relief from pain, it often accelerates the long-term decline of knee health. In fact, studies have shown that patients who have a portion of their meniscus removed are more likely to experience significant knee problems in the future, including osteoarthritis.

The Evolution of Meniscus Surgery: From Removal to Preservation

For many years, meniscectomy was considered the most straightforward solution for a torn meniscus. However, the risks of removing the tissue—such as arthritis and chronic pain—became increasingly clear. As a result, the medical community shifted toward meniscus preservation as the gold standard, emphasizing repair over removal.

Preserving the meniscus whenever possible is now a priority in modern orthopedics. Fortunately, recent surgical advancements have made this goal more achievable. With new techniques, even complex tears that were once thought to be irreparable can now be treated successfully.

One such technique is the circumferential compression stitch, an all-inside meniscus repair method that has revolutionized how meniscus tears are treated.

How Modern Techniques Like the Circumferential Stitch Make Repair Possible

The circumferential compression stitch is a cutting-edge technique that allows surgeons to repair tears in the meniscus that would have been challenging to fix with older methods. This technique involves a continuous suture loop that goes around the entire tear, creating even compression across the meniscus. The suture holds both the upper and lower portions of the meniscus together, promoting natural healing.

Here’s why the circumferential compression stitch is so beneficial for meniscus repair:

• It offers better fixation: The technique applies uniform compression, which reduces the chance of the tear pulling apart during healing.
  
• It can fix a wider variety of tears: The circumferential stitch is particularly useful for complex meniscus tears—such as horizontal, root, and radial tears—that were previously difficult or impossible to repair using older techniques.
  
• It maintains the meniscus’s function: By preserving the natural structure of the meniscus, the circumferential stitch helps keep the knee’s cushioning and stabilizing function intact.

The beauty of this technique is its ability to work on more types of tears, providing a more stable and reliable repair than traditional methods.

Repair vs. Removal: The Long-Term Difference for Your Knees

When choosing between repair and removal, it’s important to consider the long-term outcomes for your knee. Removing the meniscus may offer temporary pain relief, but it compromises the natural function of the knee, increasing the risk of early arthritis and instability. Meniscus repair, on the other hand, offers several long-term benefits:

• Knee stability: Repairing the meniscus maintains the knee’s natural stability, which is crucial for both everyday movement and athletic activities.
  
• Reduced arthritis risk: By preserving the meniscus, the knee joint is less likely to experience the wear and tear that leads to arthritis. Studies show that preserving the meniscus decreases the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis over time.
  
• Maintaining natural movement: The meniscus is integral in transmitting forces and stabilizing the knee during twisting and turning movements. Repairing the tear helps maintain the knee’s natural biomechanics.

Repairing the meniscus also allows you to preserve your active lifestyle, as it reduces the chances of long-term pain and joint deterioration. While not every tear can be repaired, many people who were once told their meniscus was irreparable now have new options thanks to modern techniques.

The Benefits of Preserving Your Meniscus Whenever Possible

The main goal of meniscus surgery is to preserve as much of the natural meniscus as possible. This is important because the meniscus is not just a cushion; it also helps distribute weight evenly across the joint, stabilizes the knee, and protects the underlying cartilage.

By repairing the meniscus rather than removing it, you can enjoy several benefits:

• Reduced risk of arthritis: The meniscus helps prevent excessive wear on the cartilage. By preserving it, you reduce the risk of osteoarthritis in the knee.
  
• Improved long-term knee health: Keeping the meniscus intact supports natural knee function and improves joint longevity.
  
• Increased physical activity: Since meniscus repair preserves knee mechanics, patients are able to return to physical activities more comfortably and with less pain.

Many modern orthopedic specialists focus on repairing the meniscus first, whenever possible, as it offers the best long-term benefits for knee health.

Talking to Your Surgeon About Meniscus Repair Options

If you’ve been diagnosed with a meniscus tear, it’s important to understand all your options before deciding on treatment. While meniscectomy may seem like a simpler choice, meniscus repair often offers the best long-term benefits.

Thanks to advanced techniques like the circumferential compression stitch, even challenging tears can now be repaired, allowing you to preserve the meniscus and protect your knee health for years to come.

If you’ve been told that your meniscus tear might require surgery, be sure to ask your orthopedic specialist about modern meniscus-preserving techniques. Understanding all your options is the first step toward protecting your knee health and maintaining an active, pain-free lifestyle.

Take Action for Your Knee Health

If you’ve been told that your meniscus tear might need surgery, ask your orthopedic specialist about modern meniscus-preserving techniques. Understanding all your options is the first step toward protecting your knee health for years to come.