Meniscal Repairs in Wayne, NJ

The cartilage in your knee provides important padding, and without it in a healthy state, you can rapidly lose function. If you or a loved one has recently suffered a meniscal tear, seek medical attention at High Mountain Orthopedics. Located in Wayne, NJ, we serve patients with quality orthopedic treatments, such as meniscectomy procedures and meniscal repairs, which can get you back on your feet in no time.

About Meniscus Tears

A torn meniscus is one of the most common injuries to affect the knee. It affects the meniscal cartilage, a C-shaped piece of cartilage in each knee that acts as a cushion between the shin and thigh bones. When one of these gets damaged, your knee no longer has the benefit of that cushion. The bones can then grind against each other, resulting in several recognizable symptoms such as:

• Swelling or stiffness in the knee joint area
• Pain that worsens when twisting or rotating the knee
• Difficulty extending your knee fully
• Catching or locking sensations
• Feeling like the knee has given way

Meniscal tears are often easy to diagnose. Your knee is essential to mobility, however, so it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as you think you may have suffered a tear. Untreated tears can rapidly get worse or heal improperly into knots of scar tissue. They may also increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life.

Major Causes and Risk Factors

Most meniscal tears are the result of forceful twists in the knee, often accompanied by a noticeable “pop” sensation. As a result, they’re common in athletes and in people who regularly lift, squat, or pivot for their jobs. There are a few other factors that may put a patient at greater risk as well. These include:

• Age: As you grow older, your connective tissue grows more brittle and becomes prone to tearing.
• Athletic activity: Athletes in high-intensity contact sports, especially those that require sudden pivoting or changes in direction, may easily tear their meniscus while playing or training.
• Previous tears: If you have suffered a meniscal tear before, the previous damage may render you more susceptible to similar injuries in the future.
• Weight: Overweight patients have extra pressure put onto their knees. The extra strain can cause a meniscal tear more easily than in someone of a healthy weight.

Our Treatment Options

Meniscal tears can vary in severity and intensity. In mild cases, conservative treatment is often enough to encourage the body to self-repair by resting, using ice packs, and taking medication. Doctors may recommend crutches to take pressure off the knee while it heals. Physical therapy can also help strengthen and stabilize the joint once it’s recovered sufficiently.

Severe tears, however, may require surgery. The doctor will use tiny incisions and an arthroscope to carefully trim the meniscus. In extreme cases, a knee replacement may even be in order. The surgery will be followed by a round of physical therapy to exercise the knee, maintain strength, and increase its flexibility, helping you to regain mobility while reducing the risk of future injury.

Seek Treatment Today at High Mountain Orthopedics

If you have suffered a meniscal tear, seek treatment as soon as possible. High Mountain Orthopedics is an excellent choice for knee surgery and orthopedic care. At our locations in Wayne, NJ, we offer meniscectomy procedures and meniscal repairs to patients from across the region. Contact us to learn more and schedule an office or telemedicine appointment as well as discuss treatment options.