A knee that catches, locks or swells after a twist is often a meniscus tear. The meniscus is the cushion of cartilage between the thigh bone and the shin bone, and what happens next depends on where the tear sits, what kind of tear it is and what the patient needs from the knee.

Patients are often told they need “keyhole surgery” without hearing that there are two very different operations behind that phrase: repair, which saves the meniscus, and trimming, which removes the torn part. This guide explains how the choice is made, so you can ask better questions in the consultation.

What the meniscus does

Each knee has two menisci, one on the inner side and one on the outer side. They absorb load, spread it across the joint and help stabilise the knee. Losing meniscus tissue raises the load on the joint cartilage, which is why surgeons try to save as much as possible. AAOS OrthoInfo explains meniscus anatomy and tears, and the NHS lists the symptoms.

How a meniscus tear presents

Typical signs are pain along the joint line, swelling that builds over a day or so, catching, clicking and a knee that locks, which means it will not fully straighten. Tears come from a twist on a planted foot in football, padel and basketball, from deep squatting under load, or from slow degeneration in older knees. The mechanism tells the examiner a lot about the type of tear.

Why the location of the tear decides repair or trim

The outer rim of the meniscus has a blood supply, which gives a tear there a real chance of healing once it is repaired. The inner part has little or none. A tear in the outer zone, particularly a fresh one in a younger, active patient, is a candidate for repair. A tear in the inner zone, or a tear with frayed, degenerate tissue, usually cannot heal, and when it blocks the joint the surgeon removes only the torn piece (partial meniscectomy).

Three outcomes

  • Treated without surgery: a stable tear that does not block the knee is managed with rehabilitation, load control and time. Many degenerative tears in older knees fall here.
  • Repaired: the torn edges are stitched together through the arthroscope so the meniscus keeps working. Repair protects the joint over the long term and is the first choice where the tear can heal.
  • Trimmed: the unstable fragment is removed and the healthy meniscus is left in place. It brings quicker relief of locking and catching.

How the surgery is done

Both operations are performed arthroscopically, through two or three small incisions with a camera and fine instruments. I completed a fellowship in knee arthroscopy and adult joint reconstruction at Sancheti Institute in Pune in 2009, and arthroscopy is the technique used. The surgeon checks the whole knee during the operation, including the ligaments and cartilage, because meniscus tears often come with other injuries. See knee arthroscopy and ACL reconstruction for the wider picture.

Rehabilitation depends on what was done

After a trim, patients walk early and return to activity as the knee settles. After a repair, the meniscus is protected for a period so the stitches can heal, with a structured programme to restore movement and strength. The plan is explained before surgery so you know what the first weeks involve. Returning to sport follows testing of strength and control, not a date on the calendar.

Meniscus tears in a Dubai routine

Football, padel, running on the Marina and JBR tracks and gym squats all load the meniscus. Many tears arrive together with an ACL injury, so every knee examination tests both. If your knee locked or gave way, book at Medcare JBR or Jumeirah rather than waiting for it to settle.

Questions patients ask

How do I know if it is a meniscus tear?

Locking, catching, joint line pain and swelling after a twist point to it. The examination and an MRI confirm it.

Does every meniscus tear need surgery?

No. Stable tears that do not block the knee are often treated with rehabilitation.

Can I run again after meniscus surgery?

Yes, once strength and movement tests clear you. The pace depends on whether the meniscus was repaired or trimmed.

Is a repair always better than a trim?

A repair is better where the tear can heal. Where it cannot, trimming the torn piece is the right operation. The location and pattern of the tear decide it.

Can a torn meniscus cause arthritis?

Losing meniscus tissue raises the load on the joint, which is why saving it matters. The NHS explains osteoarthritis of the knee.

Check the facts yourself

Book a knee consultation in Dubai

Call or WhatsApp +971 553117577, request an appointment online, or see the contact page for the address and consultation days. I examine the problem, review any scans you bring and explain each option before any decision is made.

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