What occurs during a meniscectomy?

What occurs during a meniscectomy?

• A. Portions of the meniscus are removed surgically
• B. The entire meniscus is replaced with a graft
• C. The meniscus is stitched to the capsule
• D. Meniscus is dissolved with enzymes

Answer: (A)

Removing torn or damaged meniscal tissue is the essence of this procedure. A meniscectomy relieves symptoms by surgically taking away the unstable or damaged portion of the meniscus, usually as a partial meniscectomy where only the torn edge is trimmed. In some cases the entire meniscus is removed, but that’s less common. The goal is to reduce pain and mechanical issues while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, since losing meniscal tissue can increase stress on the knee joint and raise the risk of early arthritis. This differs from other approaches: repairing involves stitching the tear back together to preserve tissue; transplantation would replace the whole meniscus with a graft; and enzymatic dissolution isn’t a standard way to treat meniscal tears.

Removing torn or damaged meniscal tissue is the essence of this procedure. A meniscectomy relieves symptoms by surgically taking away the unstable or damaged portion of the meniscus, usually as a partial meniscectomy where only the torn edge is trimmed. In some cases the entire meniscus is removed, but that’s less common. The goal is to reduce pain and mechanical issues while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, since losing meniscal tissue can increase stress on the knee joint and raise the risk of early arthritis. This differs from other approaches: repairing involves stitching the tear back together to preserve tissue; transplantation would replace the whole meniscus with a graft; and enzymatic dissolution isn’t a standard way to treat meniscal tears.