How long does meniscus arthroscopy surgery take?

Meniscus surgery by arthroscopy is the treatment used to repair meniscus injuries, which are very common in athletes. This meniscus repair is mainly due to cartilage breakage caused by trauma, overexertion of the joint or even degeneration due to the passage of time.

This intervention is recommended, above all, when medication is not effective against the symptoms of pain, which can even disable the movements of daily activities such as getting up, getting dressed, walking, etc.

Thus, to solve the problems caused by the injury or tear of the meniscus, it is possible and common to resort to surgical knee arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique that consists of repairing the meniscus tear or rupture without the need for open knee surgery. 

This type of procedure provides advantages such as minimising recovery times and reducing tissue damage.

The duration of the meniscus operation by arthroscopy is approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending on several factors such as the severity of the tear, the existence or not of associated problems, etc.

When meniscal injuries are accompanied by other types of injuries such as torn ligaments, the duration of the operation will increase. Sometimes the diagnosis is not clear despite the complementary tests performed prior to the operation. 

In this case, the first step during arthroscopy is to determine the pathology, i.e. to diagnose the disease.

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As with all surgical interventions, the duration of the knee replacement operation is not the same for all patients, so it is not possible to give an exact time. 

This will depend on the characteristics of the patient, the severity of the joint situation they present, etc.

• Patient's physical condition: the patient's weight, height, bone quality and associated pathologies will influence the need for a longer or shorter surgical time.
• Surgeon's experience: although this is the least important variable in the duration of arthroscopy, it is true that some specialists are capable of performing the operation in less time.

However, the speed with which the surgery is performed is not associated with a better outcome of the operation. The skill is the same for any self-respecting trauma specialist.

• Meniscal injury: the state in which the injury has affected the surrounding tissues is closely related to the time needed in the operating theatre to perform the arthroscopy. Thus, meniscus arthroscopy will require different lengths of time, depending on the type of tear involved:
• Traumatic meniscus tear: this type of tear usually occurs in young adults, between 20 and 40 years of age, the main cause being a blow or bad movement during the practice of a sport.
• Degenerative meniscus tear: in this case, this type of tear has a higher incidence in people between 40 and 70 years of age and is due to the meniscus having suffered wear and tear over the years and ruptures during an apparently normal, non-traumatic movement such as climbing a step.

You will normally be admitted to hospital the day before or a few hours before the operation. Before the operation, you will undergo a pre-operative examination to check that you are not at risk for the intervention.

• First, 2 or 3 mini incisions are made to introduce the arthroscope.
• The specialist will inspect the inside of your knee to confirm the meniscus injury and make sure there is no further damage.
• Next, the surgical instruments needed to repair the meniscus are inserted.

This meniscus repair can be performed using two different techniques, depending on your characteristics and the severity of the injury. 

Most commonly, you will be informed of the process to be followed before the intervention:

• Partial meniscectomy: this technique for performing meniscus surgery consists of removing the free part of the meniscus that is detached due to the meniscus tear. Total meniscectomy is not recommended (although it is sometimes necessary) because it causes future problems of premature osteoarthritis.
• Meniscal suture: this is the most recommended technique for meniscus surgery, although it is only possible for specific types of tears and entails additional costs in addition to the cost of the operation. It consists of suturing the damaged part of the meniscus. It is the most common choice for young people and athletes, as it has very good long-term results.
• After repairing the meniscus with the chosen technique, the specialist will check again that there is no damage to the other elements of the knee that could have been caused during the operation.
• After making sure of this, the surgeon will remove all the surgical instruments and suture the incisions, bringing the arthroscopic meniscus operation to an end.

Meniscus surgery by arthroscopy usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes and you can usually go home the same day, although it is recommended that you spend one night in hospital to ensure the success of the surgery.

The recovery time after meniscus surgery is 1 month. However, this may vary depending on the type of injury.

In the case of a parameniscal injury, with a lower intensity and tear, it is even possible to treat it with rest and rehabilitation. However, if it is a meniscal tear, surgery is inevitable.

The technique used in surgery will directly influence the recovery time.

Recovery after meniscus arthroscopy is much quicker than after open surgery.

The time it takes to return to sport will depend on factors such as, for example, the type of surgery performed. In the case of meniscal repair, the postoperative period is longer, although the results are excellent in any case.

Normally, if the rehabilitation is carried out correctly, you will be able to return to sport in a matter of 3 or 4 months. However, this will depend on each individual case and, in any case, it will be the doctor who determines this.

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