5 Meniscus Tear Treatments to Consider Before Total Knee Replacement

Meniscus injuries are among the most common knee injuries in the U.S., often resulting in a painful, swollen knee or the feeling that the knee catches or locks. When deciding how to treat your torn meniscus, you and your doctor will consider many things such as your age, lifestyle, severity of injury, location of the tear and pain level.

Depending on these factors, your treatment options may include:

  1. Physical Therapy
    Meniscus injuries can often be managed by controlling the pain and swelling, as well as possibly working with a physical therapist to restore full knee strength and mobility. Your therapist or physician may recommend ice and compression and provide you with a special at-home exercise regime, or may use a treatment called neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to help improve your strength. Medications like aspirin and ibuprofen may also be recommended to reduce pain and swelling.
  2. Injections
    The two most common injections that can be helpful in reducing inflammation within the joint are cortisone injections and hyaluronic acid – originally derived from the combs of roosters – which can lubricate the knee joints and provide short-term relief. While injections temporarily reduce pain, they will not help heal the meniscus tear.
  3. Stem-Cell Therapy
    Researchers have been developing stem-cell therapies that may help heal the injured tissue. During treatment, stem cells from your own body or some other source are injected into the injured knee area, where they grow, differentiate and assist with the healing of the meniscus. Keep in mind that while this type of therapy is promising, it is relatively new and is still considered experimental in some countries. As such, most insurances won’t cover the cost, and it is unknown if this will be a long-term cure or how long the effects will last.
  4. Meniscus Surgery
    If an injury is severe or if symptoms persist after nonsurgical treatment, many turn to surgery to repair a meniscal tear: a partial meniscectomy if the meniscus can be trimmed (or removed) or a meniscus repair if the tear can be sewn together. While meniscus surgery remains one of the most common orthopedic procedures performed in the U.S., several recent studies have shown that surgery to repair a torn meniscus may not offer any benefit or pain reduction over physical therapy. In addition, those who undergo these surgeries have a much higher probability of getting a total knee replacement in their lifetime.
  5. NUsurface Meniscus Implant
    If you are suffering from knee pain following meniscus surgery or are without viable treatment options, the NUsurface® Meniscus Implant may provide an alternative option, once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. NUsurface is designed to mimic the function of the natural meniscus and redistribute loads transmitted across the knee joint. The implant is made from medical grade plastic and, as a result of its unique materials, composite structure and design, does not require fixation to bone or soft tissues. NUsurface has the potential to address the treatment gap of those suffering from meniscus deficiency and deterioration who are too old for meniscus repair and too young for total knee arthroplasty. U.S. clinical trials completed enrollment in June 2018, and the company is expecting to file for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the next two years.

With proper diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, patients who suffer from a meniscus injury or tear are often able to return to their pre-injury abilities. If you have questions about the best course of action for your knee pain, schedule an appointment with your physician to discuss what’s right for you.

CAUTION – Investigational device. Limited by United States law to investigational use.