Meniscus, it is not always to be operated

By Dr. Corrado Bait - Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology

It applies to all surgical procedures and the one on the meniscus is no exception: before going under the knife it is important to carefully evaluate the pros and cons. Like all parts of our body, in fact, even the meniscus is useful (by the way, we always use the singular but in reality in each knee the meniscuses are two: one lateral and one medial).

Before deciding to eliminate it in part or completely, we must therefore weigh the consequences well. But first of all, what's the use of the meniscus? "Its main role - explains Corrado Bait, head of the Operative Unit of Knee Surgery and Sports Traumatology at the Humanitas Clinical Institute and a member of the specialized Physioclinic center in Milan - is to cushion the mechanical stress that normal activities such as run or jump generate in the knee joint ". A kind of bearing, then.

Precisely because of its function, the meniscus tends to deteriorate over time and following repeated stresses. "Usually - says Bait - the conservative approach is chosen when the meniscus has degenerated due to age. If it becomes symptomatic only under stress, it is not operated but rather, on the contrary, we try to preserve it in the best way by adapting the lifestyle or sport activity ". The approach is different, however, when the subject is young and the meniscus is damaged following a trauma, also because in these cases the pain is usually constant. "On the broken meniscus we practice the so-called selective meniscectomy - explains Bait -, which consists in removing the broken fragment and balancing the remaining portion, so that it can still perform its role as a cushion between the tibia and the femur., or the intervention of removal of the injured portion of meniscus, takes place in arthroscopy, that is by practicing two small incisions through which a camera is inserted, which allows to explore the joint completely and surgical instruments ".

Healthy knees? It does so

The joints also age. As in the case of skin and soft tissues, something can also be done for them (indeed, a lot) to keep them functioning and in good health for as long as possible. "The weight is essential in order not to overload the joints - says Bait - and the same is true for the muscle tone. Those who suffer from degenerative meniscopathy, or meniscal disorders on a non-traumatic basis, must remember to devote themselves only to so-called sports activities "in discharge", such as cycling or swimming. Furthermore, biophysical stimulation therapies can also be useful with dedicated apparatus and infiltrations of hyaluronic acid, which lubricates the joint, reducing friction and thus improving joint function ".