Operation on the knee joint, at the meniscus: reviews. Rehabilitation after surgery for knee joint meniscus

The question of in which situations surgery on the knee joint is needed at the meniscus is heard quite often. It is difficult to answer it unequivocally. The testimonies of people who have experienced different problems with this body indicate some suspicion before the operation, so they searched for conservative methods of treatment. In order to fully reveal the topic of the need for surgical intervention, you need to understand what the meniscus is.

What is the knee joint meniscus ?

Cartilage pads, which are a kind of shock absorbers and stabilizers, as well as increased mobility and flexibility, are called meniscuses of the knee joint. If the joint moves, the meniscus will shrink and change its shape.

The knee joint includes two meniscus - medial or internal and lateral or external. They are joined together by a transverse ligament in front of the joint.

The peculiarity of the external meniscus is greater mobility, and therefore its injuries are higher. The inner meniscus is not so mobile, it depends on the inner lateral ligament. Therefore, if it is injured, then this bunch is also damaged. In this case, surgery is required on the knee joint at the meniscus.

Causes of various meniscus injuries

So why are their injuries occurring, and in what cases is an operation necessary for the knee joint meniscus?

• To the rupture of the cartilaginous lining the injuries are caused, which are accompanied by the movement of the shin in different directions.
• Damage to the meniscus of the knee joint (treatment, surgery and other methods will be discussed below) may be in case of excessive extension of the joint with the reduction and retraction of the shin.
• Discontinuities are possible with direct action on the joint, for example, from a stroke with a moving object, an emphasis on a step or a drop on the knee.
• With repeated direct contusion, a chronic traumatism of the meniscus can occur, which can lead to a rupture during sharp rotation.
• Changes in meniscus can occur in certain diseases, such as rheumatism, gout, chronic intoxication (especially in those people whose work involves prolonged standing or walking), with chronic microtrauma.

Meniscus treatment methods, reviews

In all cases, surgery is not shown, as the damage to this tissue may be different. There are several ways to restore the functionality of the meniscus. For this, physiotherapeutic procedures are carried out, various medications are used, and recipes of traditional medicine are also used.

Many patients choose more conservative methods, as evidenced by their feedback. But they also note the risk of losing time for recovery. When they instead of carrying out the operation, which experts advised, they chose physiotherapy or treatment with folk remedies, it only got worse. In such cases, however, an operation was performed, but it was already more complicated and with a long recovery period. Therefore, sometimes it happens that the operation on the knee joint is inevitable at the meniscus. In what cases is it appointed?

When is an operation on the knee joint meniscus?

• When crushing the meniscus.
• If there is a break and displacement of it. The body of the meniscus is characterized by circulatory insufficiency, therefore, in case of a rupture, there is no question of self-healing. In this case, a partial or complete resection of the cartilage is indicated.
• In case of a hemorrhage into the joint cavity, an operation is also performed on the knee joint meniscus. The patients' testimonies testify to a fairly rapid rehabilitation in this case.
• When the body and the horns of the meniscus completely disappeared.

What kinds of manipulations are used?

Operations are carried out for stitching or partial removal of cartilage. Sometimes an operation to remove the meniscus of the knee occurs for the purpose of transplanting this organ. In this case, some of the damaged cartilage is removed and replaced with a graft. This is not a too dangerous surgical intervention, although some patients, according to their reports, were afraid to resort to the help of transplants. After such manipulation, there are few risks, since donor or artificial menisci take root without any problems. The only drawback in this situation is long-term rehabilitation. On average, it takes 3-4 months for a successful transplant survival. After this, the working capacity of a person is gradually restored. Those who do not want to lose so much time for rehabilitation, resort to radical methods of restoring their torn cartilage.

Recently, medicine has reached such a level that it is possible to save even a torn to the part of the meniscus. To do this, do not delay the operation and in a calm state, with properly organized treatment, spend at least a month on rehabilitation. Proper nutrition also plays a role here. Patients' opinions can be found opposite: some are inclined to replace cartilage with a donor or artificial one, while others prefer their own. But in these two cases, a positive result is possible only with the correct approach to rehabilitation after surgery.

Application of arthroscopy of the knee joint

With the help of arthroscopy, the surgeon can see most of the structures inside the knee joint. The knee joint can be compared to the hinge, which is formed by the terminal sections of the tibia and femur. The surfaces of these bones adjacent to the joint have a smooth cartilaginous cover, due to which they can slide when the joint moves. Normally, this cartilage is white, smooth and elastic, three to four millimeters in thickness. With the help of arthroscopy, you can identify many problems, including the rupture of the knee joint meniscus . Operation with arthroscopic technique will help to solve this problem. After it, the person again can fully move. Patients note that today it is the best procedure for restoring the function of the knee joint.

Operation on the knee joint at the meniscus - duration

In arthroscopy, through small holes in the joint cavity, surgical instruments are introduced . The arthroscope and the instruments that are used in this procedure allow the doctor to examine, remove or stitch the tissues located inside the joint. The image through the arthroscope falls on the monitor. The joint is filled with a liquid, which makes it possible to see everything clearly enough. The whole procedure lasts no more than 1-2 hours.

According to statistics, among all injuries of the knee joint, half is due to damage to the knee joint meniscus. The operation makes the patient feel better, relieves swelling. But, the patients note, the result of this procedure is not always predictable. It all depends on the unfolding or worn out cartilage.

Rehabilitation with conservative treatment, reviews

Rehabilitation is required not only after surgery on the meniscus, but also as a result of any treatment for this cartilage. Conservative treatment involves a two-month rehabilitation with the following recommendations:

1. Do cold compresses.
2. Every day to devote time to physical therapy and gymnastics.
3. Use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.

Rehabilitation after surgery

A few other requirements for recovery involves surgery on the knee joint meniscus. Rehabilitation in this case involves a little more effort, the same patients note. This is due to the fact that there was more serious damage to the meniscus, as well as penetration through other tissues of the body. To recover from surgery you will need:

• Initially, it is necessary to walk with a support to not load the joint - it can be a cane or crutches, the duration of use of which determines the doctor.
• After that, the load increases slightly on the joint - movement occurs already with the distribution of the load on the joints of the legs. This happens 2-3 weeks after the operation.
• Then independent walking with ortheses - special fixators of joints is supposed.
• After 6-7 weeks it is necessary to begin medical gymnastics.

With strict adherence to these recommendations, complete restoration of the knee joint occurs 10-12 weeks after surgery.

Postoperative complications

What negative consequences can the operation on the meniscus of the knee joint leave after itself? Feedback suggests that postoperative complications are rare, but still they happen.

• The most common is intra-articular infection. It can get into the joint if the rules of asepsis and antiseptics are not respected. Also, an already existing purulent focus in the joint can lead to infection.
• There are also damage to the cartilage, meniscus and ligaments. There have been cases of breakage of surgical instruments inside the joint.
• If it is wrong to approach rehabilitation after surgery on the knee joint, its stiffness, up to ankylosis, is possible.
• Other complications include thrombemia, gas and fat embolism, fistulas, adhesions, nerve damage, hemarthrosis, osteomyelitis, sepsis.

Sports after surgery

Professional athletes are trying to resume their studies as soon as possible after a meniscus injury and surgery. With a specially developed rehabilitation program, this can be achieved after 2 months, they note. For rapid recovery, power simulators (bicycle ergometers), exercises in the pool, certain exercises and so on are used. When rehabilitation comes to an end, you can run on the treadmill, pass the ball, simulate exercises related to a particular sport. The responses of such patients indicate difficulties in rehabilitation in this way, since it is always difficult to develop a painful joint. But after hard work and patience, you can achieve good and fast results.

Proper rehabilitation after surgery on the knee joint meniscus leads to complete recovery. Forecasts of doctors are favorable.