Restore comfortable knee movement when a meniscus tear causes pain, swelling, catching, or locking. Dr. Stephanie Buza, our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, provides individualized arthroscopic treatment to help athletes and active individuals get moving again.
Repair Your Meniscus With Smaller Incisions
Knee arthroscopy allows Dr. Buza to view and treat problems inside your knee through small incisions using a camera and specialized instruments. For a torn meniscus, surgery may involve repairing the damaged cartilage or performing a meniscectomy to remove unstable tissue that cannot be repaired. The appropriate technique depends on your tear’s location, pattern, and severity, with treatment focused on preserving healthy meniscus tissue whenever possible.
Knee Arthroscopy & Meniscus Surgery Treats:
- Meniscus tears
- Torn or damaged knee cartilage
- Unstable meniscus tissue
- Meniscus injuries causing knee locking
- Persistent catching or clicking within the knee
- Knee pain associated with meniscus damage
- Swelling and stiffness related to meniscus injuries
- Meniscus tears caused by sports or athletic injuries
- Degenerative meniscus tears when surgery is appropriate
Your Knee Arthroscopy & Meniscus Surgery Procedure
Knee arthroscopy is performed through small incisions called portals around your knee. Dr. Buza inserts an arthroscope to view the meniscus, cartilage, ligaments, and other structures inside the joint on a monitor. Small surgical instruments are introduced through additional portals, allowing her to access the damaged meniscus without making a large incision.
What happens next depends on your tear. During a meniscus repair, Dr. Buza brings repairable torn edges together and secures them using sutures or specialized fixation devices so the tissue can heal. If the damaged portion cannot be repaired, a partial meniscectomy removes and smooths only unstable torn tissue while preserving as much healthy meniscus as possible. The instruments are removed, the portals are closed, and your rehabilitation plan begins.
Benefits of Knee Arthroscopy & Meniscus Surgery:
- Small incisions compared with open knee surgery
- Direct visualization of structures inside the knee
- Precise treatment of damaged meniscus tissue
- Preservation of healthy meniscus whenever repair is possible
- Removal of unstable tissue when a tear cannot be repaired
- Treatment of mechanical symptoms such as catching or locking
- Improved knee movement and function after appropriate treatment
Return to Activity After Knee Arthroscopy & Meniscus Surgery
How quickly you get moving again depends on the type of meniscus surgery you need. After a partial meniscectomy, you can often begin putting weight on your knee as tolerated soon after surgery. Walking, mobility, and strengthening progress gradually, with everyday activities often returning within weeks before you advance to running, jumping, and sports.
Meniscus repair takes longer because the repaired tissue needs time to heal. You may need crutches and limits on weight-bearing or bending for around 4 to 6 weeks. Physical therapy then builds your motion, strength, balance, and control. Returning to higher-impact sports may take around 4 to 6 months, with Dr. Buza guiding your progression based on how your knee heals.
Does Every Meniscus Tear Require Surgery?
No. Your treatment depends on your symptoms, the characteristics of the tear, and how much it interferes with your life. Some meniscus tears can initially be managed with activity modification, physical therapy, and non-operative measures. Surgery may be considered when symptoms persist, or mechanical problems such as catching or locking affect your knee function.
Your Comeback Story Starts Here.
Schedule Your Consultation for Knee Arthroscopy & Meniscus Surgery in NYC
Dr. Stephanie Buza is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and knee care. As a former classically trained ballet dancer, she understands how important healthy movement is when your sport, performance, or lifestyle depends on it. She tailors treatment to your injury and goals while preserving healthy meniscus tissue whenever appropriate. Schedule your consultation for knee arthroscopy and meniscus surgery in New York City today.
