A meniscus root repair surgery aims to fix a torn meniscus root and reattach it to the bone. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Isolating the root: The surgeon first locates the torn meniscus root.
2. Placing sutures: The surgeon then places at least two sutures (stitches) in the remaining part of the meniscus root.
3. Repositioning the meniscus: The surgeon tries to move the meniscus back into a more normal position. Sometimes, scar tissue must be released to help the meniscus move back into place.
4. Creating a tunnel: The surgeon creates a small hole (about 6-7 millimeters wide) in the bone where the root attaches.
5. Pulling sutures through the tunnel: The sutures are pulled through the tunnel and securing it to the front of the shin bone. This helps hold the meniscus root in place while it heals.

The surgeon will check the knee’s range of motion (how far the knee can bend) to make sure the repair is not under too much stress during movement. This is important to avoid damaging the repair during recovery.

After a meniscus root repair, it’s important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully to ensure the knee heals properly. Here’s what you can expect after surgery:

1. Limited range of motion: For the first 4 weeks, the knee is usually limited to bending between or 0-90 degrees. After that, the knee can start to bend more, depending on how well the patient is healing.
2. Weight-bearing: Patients can start putting weight on the knee at 6 weeks, but should avoid activities that put stress on the knee, like deep squatting, lifting, or sitting cross-legged for 5-6 months.
3. Exercise: Patients can start using a stationary bike and can begin reducing their use of crutches around 6 weeks after surgery.

The results of meniscus root repairs are generally positive, with many patients seeing improvements, like less swelling in the bone and a delay in the development of arthritis. However, more research is needed to improve these treatments. Studies have shown that using only one suture for the repair doesn’t work as well as using two sutures, so doctors always use at least two to help the meniscus heal better.