These are my favorite kinds of stories to share – the stories from my patients who are back in the game! Brenda Yee had a medial meniscus tear that could be arthroscopically repaired and thus, spare her from needing knee replacement further down the road.
After consulting with Hospital for Special Surgery surgeon Dr. Hannafin and a referral to me, Brenda has resumed ALL of her physical activities.
Read Brenda’s story in her own words.
Why I chose repair over meniscectomy in Brenda's case
When the tear pattern and tissue quality allow it, I always prefer repairing a medial meniscus tear rather than excising it. The medial meniscus is the knee's primary shock absorber on the inside of the joint. Once you remove meniscal tissue, you accelerate cartilage wear on the underlying tibia and femur — and that is the pathway that ultimately leads many patients to early osteoarthritis and, eventually, knee replacement. Brenda's tear was in the peripheral, well-vascularized zone (often called the red-red zone), which has the blood supply needed for the tissue to heal once it's stabilized arthroscopically. Whenever I see that pattern in a healthy, active patient, repair is the right call — even though the rehab is longer.
What the arthroscopic repair looked like
Through small incisions and a camera-guided approach, the torn fragment is reduced back to its anatomic position and held with sutures or all-inside repair devices. There is no large open incision, and most patients go home the same day. The first 4–6 weeks involve protected weight-bearing and a controlled range of motion to let the meniscus heal; from there, strength work, low-impact cardio, and gradual return to sport follow over the next several months. Brenda followed her rehab plan closely, which is the single biggest predictor of a durable repair.
When meniscus repair is an option for you
Not every meniscus tear is repairable — degenerative tears, complex flap tears, and tears in the avascular inner zone often heal poorly even when sutured. The honest answer for any individual patient depends on imaging (MRI), tear pattern, tissue quality, age, activity level, and the condition of the surrounding cartilage. Brenda's outcome is a reminder that when repair IS an option, choosing it almost always pays off long-term. If you have been told you need a meniscectomy, it is worth asking your surgeon whether your tear is potentially repairable instead — and if you would like a second opinion, my office is always happy to review your imaging.
