Whenever the tear pattern, blood supply and patient age allow, meniscus repair is preferred over partial meniscectomy. Repair preserves long-term knee health and prevents early arthritis.
Why the meniscus matters
The menisci are crescent-shaped shock absorbers between the thigh bone and shin bone. Losing them accelerates cartilage wear by 5–10×.
Repair vs. removal
Tears in the outer red zone (good blood supply) heal beautifully with arthroscopic suture repair.
Inner white zone tears or complex degenerate tears may need a partial trim — but the surgeon should always preserve as much meniscus as possible.
Recovery
After meniscus repair: brace and partial weight-bearing for 4–6 weeks, return to sport at 4–6 months.
After partial meniscectomy: walk same day, return to sport in 3–6 weeks.