The meniscus is a C-shaped cartilage cushion between your thigh and shin bone that absorbs shock and stabilises the knee. Meniscus tears occur during twisting injuries in sport — or from degeneration in middle age, sometimes with something as minor as squatting. At Noida Orthopedic Clinic, Dr. Amit Aggrawal treats meniscus tears with everything from rehabilitation and injections to arthroscopic repair, preserving as much meniscus as possible.

Classic symptoms include pain on the inner or outer side of the knee, swelling that develops over a day or two, locking or catching of the knee (a fragment blocking movement), clicking sensations, and difficulty fully straightening or squatting. Degenerative tears may cause intermittent swelling and pain with deep squats or stairs.

Not all tears need the same treatment. Meniscus repair (suturing the tear arthroscopically) is preferred in young patients and in tears with good blood supply — preserving the cushion and protecting the joint long-term. Partial meniscectomy (trimming the damaged fragment) is chosen for irreparable tears causing mechanical symptoms. Degenerative tears often respond to physiotherapy and injection therapy first, with surgery reserved for persistent symptoms.

Recovery depends on the procedure. After a partial meniscectomy, most patients walk normally within a week and resume sport in 3–4 weeks. After a meniscus repair, the knee is protected with restricted weight-bearing and bending for 4–6 weeks, followed by progressive physiotherapy — full return to sport takes 3–4 months to protect the healing repair.