When does a meniscal tear need surgery?
A meniscal tear needs surgery when: 1) the tear causes symptoms such as pain, swelling, catching, or locking, 2) a displaced portion of the meniscus is causing the knee to lock, or 3) the tear is associated with knee instability. Is an MRI needed to diagnose a meniscal tear? An MRI is not always required to diagnose a meniscal tear. A meniscal tear can be accurately diagnosed with a doctor’s physical examination. However, an MRI can be useful to determine the extent of the injury, the displacement of a tear, and help determine if there are any other associated injuries. How does the doctor decide between repairing the tear vs. removing the torn piece of meniscus? The final decision is made during an arthroscopy when the surgeon gets a close look and probes the tear. Tears in the outer third of the meniscus are often repaired. This region has a better blood supply for healing. Also, the outer portion of the meniscus is thicker and resection of these tears will leave little meniscus rema
