Located on the head of the shinbone (tibia), a meniscus absorbs shock and reduces friction in the knee during movement. Each knee has two menisci. When one of these crescent-shaped cartilage structures develops a tear, it can be hard to rotate the knee. Pain and locking can result.
To repair a torn meniscus, surgery is needed. This is typically done with an arthroscope — a small, fiber-optic camera which fits through a small incision made by the surgeon. As the following video demonstrates, the objective of torn meniscus surgery is to mend the tear using a suture or a tack-like device that is eventually absorbed by the body.
John C. Lincoln Hospitals invite you to learn more about torn meniscus surgery in this interactive video.