Physiotherapy and activity change
Strengthening the thigh muscles, avoiding deep squatting and twisting, and short courses of medicine. Suitable for many small, stable and degenerative tears.
Arthroscopy & Sports Injury
Meniscus Tear Treatment in LucknowDr Hatif Siddiqui
The meniscus is the C-shaped cartilage cushion between the thigh and shin bones. A tear can cause pain, swelling, and a knee that catches, locks or gives way.
Many tears settle with physiotherapy. Others need keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery to repair or trim the torn part. The right choice depends on the type of tear, where it is, and your age and activity level.
Arthroscopy & Sports Injury Care
Advanced orthopaedic care in Lucknow
- Common cause
- Twisting injury, or wear with age
- Key test
- Examination and MRI
- Surgery type
- Arthroscopic (keyhole)
- Hospital stay
- Usually day care or one night
Seek urgent care: if your knee is locked and will not straighten after an injury. A displaced (bucket-handle) tear can block the joint and usually needs prompt surgery.
Symptoms of a Meniscus Tear
Symptoms can start suddenly after a twisting injury, or slowly in older knees where the meniscus has become worn.
- Pain on the inner or outer side of the knee
- Swelling, often over a day or two
- Catching or clicking with movement
- Locking: the knee gets stuck and will not straighten
- Giving way or feeling unstable
- Pain when squatting, twisting or climbing stairs
How a Meniscus Tear Is Diagnosed
Diagnosis starts with a careful examination of the knee, including specific tests that stress the meniscus. An X-ray rules out fractures and arthritis. An MRI shows the tear pattern and its exact location, which decides whether it can be repaired.
Meniscus tears often occur with ACL injuries, so the ligaments are checked at the same time.
Treatment Options
Not every meniscus tear needs an operation. Degenerative tears in older knees often do well without surgery.
Arthroscopic meniscus repair
The torn edges are stitched back together through small keyhole cuts. Repair keeps the cushion, which protects the knee long term. It works best for tears in the outer, better-supplied part of the meniscus, especially in younger patients.
Partial meniscectomy (trimming)
When a torn piece cannot heal, only the damaged part is trimmed away and the healthy meniscus is kept. Recovery is faster than after a repair.
Recovery After Meniscus Surgery
| Partial meniscectomy | Walking the same or next day. Most return to daily activities in 1–2 weeks and to sport in about 4–6 weeks. |
|---|---|
| Meniscus repair | Protected weight bearing, sometimes with a brace, for about 4–6 weeks while the repair heals. |
| Strength phase | Physiotherapy to rebuild thigh and hip strength and full knee movement. |
| Return to sport after repair | Usually around 4–6 months, once strength and movement are back and the knee is not swollen. |
Timelines are typical ranges. Your plan depends on the tear and whether other injuries, such as an ACL tear, are treated at the same time.
Why Choose Dr Hatif Siddiqui
- Fellowship in Sports Trauma, London (UK)
- Life member of the Indian Arthroscopy Society, and member of ISKSAA (arthroscopy and arthroplasty)
- Keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery of the knee and shoulder at Medanta Lucknow
- Non-surgical treatment first whenever it can work, with a structured return-to-sport plan when surgery is needed
Consultation Locations
Medanta Lucknow
OPD - B Wing, 2nd Floor, Medanta, Sector A, Pocket 1, Amar Shaheed Path, Golf City, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226002
Indira Nagar Clinic
1D, near Khan Dairy Road, Block A, Indira Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226016
Watch Dr Hatif Siddiqui Explain
Short videos from Dr Hatif Siddiqui’s YouTube channel.
मेनिस्कस टियर का इलाज लखनऊ में
मेनिस्कस घुटने के अंदर का गद्दीनुमा कार्टिलेज है। मुड़ने वाली चोट के बाद दर्द, सूजन, घुटने का अटकना या लॉक होना इसके लक्षण हैं। हर टियर में ऑपरेशन की ज़रूरत नहीं होती; कई मरीज़ फ़िज़ियोथेरेपी से ठीक हो जाते हैं। ज़रूरत पड़ने पर दूरबीन (आर्थ्रोस्कोपी) से मेनिस्कस को सिला या ठीक किया जाता है। अपना MRI लेकर परामर्श लें।
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a meniscus tear heal without surgery?
Many can settle enough that surgery is not needed, especially small, stable and degenerative tears. Physiotherapy and activity changes are tried first. Tears that cause locking, or keep causing pain and swelling despite treatment, usually need arthroscopic surgery.
Is meniscus repair better than removing the torn part?
When the tear pattern allows it, repair is preferred because it preserves the cushion and protects the knee from early arthritis. Some tears cannot heal and are better trimmed. The MRI and the findings at arthroscopy decide which is right.
How long does meniscus surgery take to recover from?
After trimming, most people walk the same or next day and return to sport in about 4–6 weeks. After a repair, protected weight bearing is needed for several weeks and return to sport usually takes 4–6 months.
Why does my knee lock after an injury?
A torn flap of meniscus can flip into the joint and block movement. A knee that is locked and will not straighten should be seen promptly, because a displaced tear is best treated early.
Do I need an MRI for a meniscus tear?
An MRI is usually needed to confirm the tear, see its pattern and location, and check the ligaments. It is what decides whether the tear can be repaired.
Related Treatments
Book a Consultation with Dr Hatif Siddiqui
Medanta Lucknow and the Indira Nagar clinic. Bring your X-ray, MRI or CT scan and any previous operation notes.