Surgery for the common meniscus tear is an outpatient arthroscopic surgical procedure. A couple of portals (holes) are made in the knee so that an arthroscope and the trimming instrument(s) can be inserted. Often a motorized or radiofrequency (electro-thermal) device is used to help trim and contour the torn area of the meniscus to create a smooth surface.

Symptoms of a damaged meniscus are pain and catching, clicking, or locking during certain twisting knee activities. These mechanical sensations are very commonly felt by the patient. The knee can also have swelling. Generally, meniscus tears do not heal because they have a poor blood supply. However, they can occasionally become asymptomatic.

The damaged ACL cannot be sewn back together as it will not heal. A torn ACL will require a reconstructive procedure using transplantable tendons from your body (autografts) such as the hamstring, bone-patella-tendon-bone (BTB) or quadriceps tendons, to reconstruct this torn ligament. Allograft (tissue bank cadaver tissue) tissue is often used with less pain to you and earlier return to function. Both autograft and allograft tendons are acceptable to use for ACL reconstructions.

Surgery about the knee cap can be controversial with no exact reason when to operate or consensus about the type of procedure that should be done.

Surgery for the PCL involves either an autograft or an allograft reconstruction of the ligament. Either a bone-tendon-bone, hamstring autograft, an achilles tendon or bone-tendon-bone allograft is used to reconstruct the posterior cruciate ligament.

No. Many degenerative or attritional tears can be managed non-operatively and allow you to return to your "normal" lifestyle.

The meniscus is a circular shaped disc of cartilage tissue. There are two menisci (plural of meniscus) in the knee – one on the inside, called the medial meniscus, and one on the outside, called the lateral meniscus. Their main function is to act as shock absorbers in the knee, helping to reduce wear and tear on the joint.

The medial and lateral menisci are fixed between the two weight-bearing surfaces within the knee, and as such can become “pinched” by the other structures of the knee between the joint when an injury occurs. Typically, the injury involves twisting on a bent knee. When this happens the menisci can become torn (“torn cartilage”). Any form of physical movement can potentially cause a meniscal tear, although they tend to be associated with sporting activities.

Symptoms with a damaged ACL will be pain, swelling and a feeling of instability. Often times the knee can buckle underneath you and “give way.” If twisting, stopping, turning sports are attempted with a torn ACL, these buckling and “giving way” episodes will recur – a “trick knee.

Generally, this pain can go away and heal on it’s own. Body mechanics and control of the femur from above with your hip muscles are important. Stretching and strengthening the quadriceps and hamstring muscles are also important.

Symptoms include instability and “giving away.” Occasionally, you can feel the tibia slipping underneath the femur. The inside medial collateral ligament (MCL) can heal on its own and rarely requires surgery. Injury to the outside lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is different altogether. This usually requires surgery, but is a rare injury.

Feelings of instability with certain motions about the knee can occur with a damaged PCL. Occasionally, with a long standing injury, the knee cap can be painful.

Generally, if the fractured bone is not separated then surgery can possibly be avoided. If the bone is broken in many places or the bone fragments are separated then often surgery may be required to help correct the anatomy of the broken bone. Even if the fracture does not require surgery, a period of immobilization (cast) may be required.

Surgery is between $2000 and $3000 including the operating room fee, depending on what needs to be done. For most patients the charge is about $2500 complete. Payment can be by check, cash, or credit card, and a finance plan is also available.

Still have questions? If so, contact personal injury attorney John H. (Jack) Hickey in Miami, Florida, to schedule a free consultation. Report the accident immediately. If it is a car accident, call the police. If it is an accident at a business or store, tell the manager or whomever works there, and get their full name and title. Go get medical treatment immediately. Do not try to be your own doctor and think that it can wait. Go to an emergency room at a hospital if you have to.

A meniscus is a"C" shaped structure in your knee that is made of fibro-cartilage. It acts as a cushion for the knee when weight bearing. Most meniscal tears in adults are attritional. That is the meniscus simply wears out from years of use. Most adult patients do not recall the moment they tore their meniscus. The presentation is usually quite different in children or adolescents. Their tears are usually traumatic in nature and will usually arise from a non-contact twisting injury.

Many adults have a tear and do not even know it. These are typically degenerative or attritional tears. Painful tears in adults are usually larger, "flap" tears. They will cause pain with kneeling, squatting, pivoting, going downstairs and occasionally they will even hurt at night when you roll over in bed.

The meniscus is a tough fibrocartilage structure and can be injured with twisting, stopping, and turning motions of the knee. Meniscus tears are usually traumatic in origin. However, as we age, hydration decreases in this tissue and tears can happen with twisting motions that pinch and tear or shear the meniscus between the end of the femur and the tibia bone.