Prognosis
Spontaneous healing of a peripheral meniscus tear or treatment of the meniscus by repair, reconstruction, replacement, or resection should result in return to full sporting or usual activity. If a tear is not diagnosed early and treated appropriately, a chronic long-standing meniscal tear is the result and is associated with a likelihood of developing degenerative arthritis.
After partial meniscectomy
Resection leads to rapid recovery over the course of a few weeks. Complications are rare, ranging from 0.27% to 2.8%.[39]
After meniscus repair
Surgical repair by suturing requires healing of the torn meniscus, usually taking 4-6 months.
Patient age does not appear to affect the success rate of meniscus repair; however, the presence of degenerative meniscus tissue in older patients should be accounted for.[1]
After meniscus reconstruction/replacement
Meniscal tears treated with these procedures usually take 3 months to heal, with additional maturation occurring over the course of 1 year.
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