Meniscectomy
What is Meniscectomy?
Meniscectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of a torn meniscus, a C-shaped cartilage in the knee that acts as a cushion between the femur and tibia. It’s typically performed arthroscopically to relieve pain and restore knee function. In India, meniscectomy is conducted in orthopedic departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Meniscectomy?
Meniscectomy is indicated for:
- Meniscal tears:
- Symptomatic tears causing pain, swelling, locking, or catching in the knee.
- Tears not amenable to repair (e.g., degenerative tears, complex tears in the white zone with poor blood supply).
- Failed non-surgical treatment:
- Persistent symptoms despite rest, ice, physiotherapy, or injections (e.g., after 6–12 weeks).
- Associated conditions:
- Often combined with other procedures (e.g., ACL reconstruction, as discussed earlier).
- Types:
- Partial meniscectomy: Removes only the damaged portion (most common).
- Total meniscectomy: Removes the entire meniscus (rare, due to long-term risks).
The procedure aims to relieve pain, improve knee function, and prevent further joint damage by removing the torn meniscus fragment, though it may increase the risk of arthritis over time compared to meniscus repair.
Why Do Meniscectomy Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Partial meniscectomy (₹50,000–₹80,000); combined with other repairs (e.g., ACL: ₹1–1.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹20,000–₹40,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced orthopedic surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹10,000/day), physiotherapy (₹5,000–₹15,000 for 1–2 months).
- Insurance: Covered for functional issues (e.g., pain, locking); confirm with your provider.
Meniscectomy Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Physical exam: Tests like McMurray’s (joint line tenderness, clicking) assess meniscal injury.
- MRI: Confirms tear type, location, and associated injuries (e.g., ACL tear).
- X-ray: Rules out fractures or severe arthritis.
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile.
- Medications: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe.
- Consent: Risks, including arthritis, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Meniscectomy:
- Performed under spinal or general anesthesia, lasting 30–60 minutes.
- Arthroscopy: Two small incisions (3–5 mm) are made around the knee.
- An arthroscope (camera) is inserted to visualize the meniscus; saline irrigation maintains a clear view.
- Surgical tools (e.g., shaver, biters) remove the torn meniscus fragment:
- Partial meniscectomy: Trims damaged area, preserving as much healthy meniscus as possible.
- Total meniscectomy: Rarely performed; removes entire meniscus.
- The joint is flushed, and incisions are closed with sutures or Steri-Strips.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Arthroscope: Visualizes the joint.
- Shaver/biters: Removes torn meniscus.
- Saline irrigation: Clears debris.
- Meniscectomy:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: Same-day discharge or 1 day.
- Knee care: Ice, compression bandage, and elevation to reduce swelling.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–5 days; managed with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Instructions: Partial weight-bearing with crutches for 1–2 weeks; start physiotherapy within 2–3 days.
Recovery After Meniscectomy
- Hospital Stay: Same-day discharge or 1 day.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Peaks at 2–5 days; ice and elevation help; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Mobility: Partial weight-bearing with crutches for 1–2 weeks; full weight-bearing by 2–4 weeks.
- Physiotherapy: Starts within 2–3 days; focuses on range of motion (0–90° by 2 weeks), strength (e.g., quadriceps), and stability; continues for 4–6 weeks.
- Activity: Avoid pivoting or high-impact sports for 3–6 months; normal walking in 2–4 weeks.
- Sutures: Dissolvable or removed at 7–10 days.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months to monitor healing and strength.
- Functional tests: At 3 months to assess return to sports.
Most resume normal activities in 4–6 weeks; full recovery (including sports) takes 3–6 months. Success rate: 85–90% achieve pain relief and improved function; outcomes vary based on tear type and joint health.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Infection (1–2%): Superficial or deep; treated with antibiotics, may need arthroscopy.
- Bleeding (1–2%): Hematoma in knee; may need drainage.
- Nerve injury (<1%): Numbness (e.g., saphenous nerve); usually temporary.
- Post-Surgery:
- Stiffness (2–5%): Limited range of motion; managed with physiotherapy.
- Persistent pain (2–5%): May indicate cartilage damage or incomplete relief; needs further evaluation.
- Swelling (5–10%): Residual effusion; resolves in 2–4 weeks with ice and elevation.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, <1%): Blood clot in leg; prevented with early mobilization.
- Long-Term:
- Osteoarthritis (10–20% over 10–20 years): Risk increases with more meniscus removed; mitigated with weight management.
- Re-tear (1–3%): Rare in partial meniscectomy; may need repeat surgery.
Report severe pain, swelling, fever, or calf pain (possible DVT) promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes a meniscus tear?
Twisting injuries (e.g., sports), degenerative changes (aging), or trauma; often associated with ACL injuries.
Can I avoid meniscectomy?
Yes, if asymptomatic or repairable: Rest, physiotherapy, or meniscus repair (if in red zone with blood supply); meniscectomy is for irreparable tears.
Is meniscectomy painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 3–5 days, managed with medication; discomfort reduces in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume activities?
Walking: 2–4 weeks; normal activities: 4–6 weeks; sports: 3–6 months.
Is meniscectomy covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for functional issues; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Severe pain, swelling, fever, or calf pain.
Will I develop arthritis after meniscectomy?
Increased risk (10–20% over 10–20 years); more likely with total meniscectomy; mitigated with healthy lifestyle.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Avoid pivoting sports for 3–6 months, follow physiotherapy, maintain healthy weight, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Meniscectomy is an effective procedure to relieve pain and restore knee function for irreparable meniscal tears, with a quick recovery and high success rate. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, typically covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an orthopedic surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Meniscectomy
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Ahmedabad |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ajmer |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Aligarh |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Allahabad |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Amritsar |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Aurangabad |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Bangalore |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bareilly |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Belgaum |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Bhopal |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Bikaner |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Chandigarh |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Chennai |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Dehradun |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Delhi |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Durgapur |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Faridabad |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Guntur |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Gurgaon |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Guwahati |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Gwalior |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Hyderabad |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Indore |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Jabalpur |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Jaipur |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Jamshedpur |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Jodhpur |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Kanpur |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Kochi |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Kolkata |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Kollam |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Lucknow |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Ludhiana |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Madurai |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Mangalore |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Meerut |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Moradabad |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Mumbai |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Mysore |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Nagpur |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Nashik |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Noida |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Patna |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Pune |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Raipur |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Rajkot |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Ranchi |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Surat |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Thane |
80,000 |
2,00,000 |
Vadodara |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Varanasi |
60,000 |
1,80,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
70,000 |
1,90,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.