Many people are able to manage
without any problems with small meniscus tears. Pain and
swelling of the joint can always be improved with icepacks,
rest and rehabilitation.
Sometimes this is not enough and
your Orthopaedic Surgeon may suggest surgery to give you
the optimum result. To arrive at this decision he may ask
for either an X-ray or a special test called an MRI scan.
These are painless diagnostic procedures to evaluate your
condition and find the right treatment for you.
A meniscus
tear is sometimes referred to as a cartilage tear and they
often occur in athletes or simply due to wear and tear. In
athletes the problem usually stems from a twist of the knee.
If you have problems with meniscus you may have difficulty
straightening your knee and you may have pain and swelling.
Many Patients also complain that they cannot straighten their
knee easily. Some experience a click in the knee when walking
upstairs.
If you unable to mobilize the knee properly you may
benefit from this type of surgery. Our Surgeon may elect
to repair the torn meniscus or remove the torn meniscus depending
on your condition. Much depends on the exact location of
the tear. This can be identified by x-ray and/or MRI scan
of the knee.
Modern orthopaedic
surgery makes good use of
a procedure using an arthroscope, this enables the surgeon
to repair or remove the torn meniscus through small incisions
in the knee. This type of surgery enables faster recovery times
both from the anesthetic and the surgery.
Normally the procedure
is performed under general anesthetic, however there are
special anesthetics used in orthopedic surgery which mean that
a general anesthetic can be avoided. It may be possible to
leave the hospital on the same day that the procedure was
performed, or an overnight stay maybe indicated.
Following
surgery you will need to walk with aid of crutches for the
first few days, a knee brace maybe used to assist in the healing
and rehabilitation process.Our Surgeon will plan an appropriate
rehabilitation programme for you depending on your own circumstances
and the surgery undertaken.
Strenuous activities and sports
will not be possible for a number of weeks as you allow the
knee to heal and gain strength. After a period of about three
to four months you will be able to return to sporting activities
once more without the need to wear a knee support or brace.
Free Consultation - the
next step
The next step is to arrange a free
private consultation with our Mills & Mills Orthopaedic
Surgeon at a centre
near you. This is easy to do. Simply call us on the
number provided and we will do the rest. We will be happy
to chat with you on the phone and answer any questions
that you might have. We know how important this procedure
is to you. It is our aim to provide you with a service
second to none.
We look forward to hearing from
you.
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