A team of doctors at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have developed a new way to treat people who have torn their meniscus. They have introduced a plastic meniscus prosthetic, which, like an artificial knee or hip joint, can be implanted into the body to improve function and relieve pain.

The menisci are two cartilages shaped like a C that are positioned on top of the tibia. Their function is to act as a shock absorber between the femur (thighbone) and tibia and help cushion the bones in your knee joint and keep them stable. If you tear your meniscus you will experience pain and swelling in your knee, stiffness, a grating sensation in your knee and loss of range of movement. If you continue to walk or run on the affected joint, the meniscus can loosen and drift into the joint, causing your knee to either lock or slip out of place.

A torn meniscus is usually caused by sporting, typically running or twisting suddenly. It can also occur as part of the aging process because cartilage wears thin and weakens as we get older.

Having an artificial meniscus will make a great difference to all those who enjoy an active lifestyle as well as those who are entering their senior years.

Current options for treatment include rest, ice, compression and elevation as well as the use of anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. A physiotherapy programme to strengthen the muscles around the knee and orthotic shoes may be beneficial. If these measures fail to improve pain levels and function, a meniscus repair surgery can be done to join the torn edges together or cut them away. This is achieved via knee arthroscopy – a keyhole surgery of the knee where a miniature camera and miniature surgical instruments are inserted into the knee so the surgeon can repair the area without leaving large scars. You should be up and about in a week or less and it takes around six weeks to recover from the operation but it can result in a complete recovery.
Another procedure called micro-fracture involves making small holes in the surface of the bone. This then stimulates the development of new cartilage. However, this is usually less dense than the original.

If you are having knee pain and would like torn meniscus surgery in London, you should contact Mr John Hollingdale, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and expert on meniscus repair. Call 01202 877 990 to arrange your personalised appointment and put the bounce back in your step.