Return to Play
Return to play after a meniscus injury is expected. The timing varies and depends on the injury, treatment, and rehabilitation protocol. In many cases, athletes can return to their sport as soon as 2-3 weeks status post arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or 6-8 weeks status post meniscal repair.
Complications
Complications are discussed under Recovery Phase, Medical Issues/Complications. In the long term, meniscal repairs fail to heal in 5-10% of patients. Failure rates are lower when the tears are repaired in patients with concomitant ACL reconstruction.
In patients with untreated tears, enlargement of the tear and arthrosis are common. In patients who are status post partial meniscectomy, arthrosis is also a concern. However, arthroscopists are hopeful that long-term outcome studies will demonstrate that a partial meniscectomy can delay or prevent the degenerative changes noted by Fairbanks in patients who had open total meniscectomy.[2]
Prevention
Prevention of recurrent problems is accomplished best by reestablishing and maintaining knee fitness with strength, flexibility, and proprioception.
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