A torn meniscus can result in either sudden or gradual onset of pain. This mechanism of injury and the description of a pop is the classic description of one who has a meniscus root tear occur. If you think you may have a meniscus tear, it is recommended that you see a sports medicine physician as soon as possible. short distances based on their motion and Meniscus root repair surgery recovery Most patients can return to full activity 4-6 months after a meniscus root repair. Monday: 8:00 am 5:00 pm The technique of a meniscus root repair involves isolating the root, placing a minimum of 2 sutures in the remaining meniscal attachment, and trying to reposition it back to a more anatomic position. My daughter injured her ankle in cross country practice and we were able to get in the next day to see Dr. Burnham. This was going to be a complete root repair surgery: toe-touch weightbearing for four weeks, six weeks in a brace and crutches. And unless you have been following my Instagram page and know about my rehab, you would never even know that I had knee surgery. For more information on meniscus root tears of the knee and meniscus root repair surgery, please contact the office of Benedict Nwachukwu, MD, orthopedic knee specialist serving Manhattan, New York City and the surrounding New York boroughs. PHONE: (952) 442-2163 | WEB: TCOMN.COM/PHYSICIANS/KYLE- MORGENSTERN/ . 4. Meniscus root repair vs meniscectomy or nonoperative management to prevent knee osteoarthritis after medial meniscus root tears: Clinical and economic effectiveness. Therefore, we then looked at surgical techniques and due to the fact that we had multiple second look arthroscopies after bone grafting for ACL reconstructions with meniscus root tears, that the 1-tunnel technique had more of a spot welding healing of the meniscus to bone whereas the 2-tunnel meniscus root repair technique had a much better healing surface of the meniscus to bone. When the meniscus root is repaired there will be a prolonged period of restricted weight bearing and range of motion to protect the My calf swelled up into my ankles. I have looked many times for answers on my tibial tubercle osteotomy and never found any as detailed as i needed. I would have relied strictly on physical therapy. There was a large grade 4 chondral defect involving the central aspect of the trochlea, approximately 30mm in width by 25mm in length. If you're an athlete needing a doctor that understands; this is the guy. But youve got to figure out a way to get your butt muscles stronger if youre looking for a more comprehensive plan for making your knee better and getting your glutes stronger we also have a program called the, https://www.epmanualphysicaltherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Logo-copy-1030x429.jpg, Shoulder Impingement: Everything You Need To Know To Get Healthy Again, Top 5 Shoulder Impingement Exercises To Help Get Healthy Again, Top 6 At Home Treatments To Begin To Naturally Heal Cervical Radiculopathy, Click Here To Schedule A Phone Call With An Expert, Click Here To Ask About Cost & Availability, Copyright 2022 - El Paso Manual Physical Therapy, How To Tell If Youve Got A Rotator Cuff Tear, Request A Virtual Visit With One Of Our Expert PTs, 28 day knee health and wellness boost program, 28-Day Knee Health & Wellness Boost Program, 28 Day Back Health & Wellness Boost Program. While there are a small number of patients who do have their meniscus root re-tear, this has been nowhere near as common as the other sources noted above. The High Tech Shirt Problem in the Squat Rusty Holcomb, Observations on Training by an Old Guy Phil Ringman. We are so grateful for you both! If the patient is not comfortable walking without an aid, then they are usually provided with axillary crutches. Most root tears involve either a direct tear of the meniscus off bone or a split of the meniscus within 1 cm of the root attachment. Patients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, New York City and the surrounding New York boroughs can expect a variation of the following: Dr. Nwachukwu is extremely knowledgeable about his area of expertise. And thats all good if youre going to end up having the surgery. Repair of the meniscal root significantly increased functional outcomes scores in 14 of 14 studies and the rate of conversion to TKA was considerably less than those observed following conservative treatment or partial meniscectomy. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. Surgical knee will be in a hinged rehab brace locked in FULL EXTENSION for 4 weeks postop. So the focus of physical therapy after a knee meniscus surgery is getting your motion all the way back and then getting strong enough to stand and do some walking. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you b. And most likely, a meniscus tear.. The recovery time for meniscus surgery depends on the type of surgery you had. Very positive experience at Bone and Joint Clinic in Baton Rouge. He listens and address every concern with appropriate solutions. endobj I got a lift home, and returned to the gym later that evening for more coaching. My right knee was totally destroyed; ACL, MCL, PCL all severely torn; the patella was the only thing intact in my right knee. The study, " Patients Who Undergo Rotator Cuff Repair Can Safely Return to Driving at 2 Weeks Postoperatively ," was published online on July 21, 2022 in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) Naproxen (Aleve) Many patients do not have significant joint line pain like a typical meniscus tear, so having a patient stand up and squat down is often performed during the clinical exam to validate that the patient may have a meniscus root tear. The most important aspect to assess when one is looking at a root repair is to ensure that ones cartilage surfaces are still fairly normal. The roots of the meniscus are responsible for transmitting weight evenly across the surface of the tibia. The patients are mostly allowed to walk immediately after arthroscopic knee surgeries. From April 22 until May 1, my program changed again, slowly becoming more like my regular training. His staff is very friendly and upbeat, knowledgeable and thorough. Now my intent on this video is not to throw anybody under the bus surgeons are doing the best they can with what they know and saw our physical therapists in any health care providers that you may be seeing for your meniscus problem. Hands down would recommend him!! Patients \50 years had outcomes similar to those of patients !50 years, as did . Two main repair techniques are described: (1) suture anchors (direct fixation) and (2) sutures pulled through a tibial tunnel (indirect fixation . 2601 E. Yandell Drive, Suite 232 He answered all my questions satisfactorily and his entire staff were polite and professional. Tuesday: 8:00 am 5:00 pm They may start the use of a stationary bike, and may slowly wean off crutches starting at 6 weeks post-operatively. The results of meniscus root repairs in the literature are encouraging, but more improvement is necessary in the future. By far the best orthopedic team I have ever met. Meniscal root repair is a procedure that is performed to stabilize a torn meniscus attachment to the tibia (shinbone). I am a coach, and I have two boys playing sports, the best thing I can say is that my sons will go see Dr. Burnham in the event they are injured, and I will always recommend him to my athletes. When one drills a tunnel and tries to place stitches up a tunnel without a cannula in place, it can be extremely technically challenging. Now, the focus when you go into a surgeons office, theyre looking at your MRI, theyre looking at your meniscus on the MRI, theyre telling you the tear in the way that its torn and how theyre going to repair it. More diffuse pain over the inside of the knee which becomes progressive over time can be particular ominous because this may mean that the cartilage is wearing out fast or that one has an insufficiency fracture or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee, occurring due to the fact that the meniscus is such an important shock absorber. Recommend highly. In January of this year, I finally decided to go back to my doctor to get that MRI. The most common root repair technique is called a transtibial technique. Dr. Burnham was very helpful for my injury! First, one needs to ensure that the meniscus root is repairable and that there is not too much arthritis on that affected portion of the joint such that a meniscus root repair would not be recommended. And its really concerning and very disappointing for somebody whos gone through the knee surgery. Currently, there are mini First-Pass devices that curve to the right and the left, which allows increased access to a root tear, especially since most root tears tend to squirt to the back part of the joint and can be more difficult to access with a straight biter. Thus, these patients can often have early onset arthritis, the development of bony edema, insufficiency fractures, and the failure of concurrent cruciate ligament reconstruction grafts. It is critical that patients following a knee joint repair refrain from squatting for at least four months after the procedure. So if thats your feeling youve taken them and it hasnt really made a difference for you dont take them if you feel like to help you out please take them but dont just take the supplements in hopes of that replacing doing the right exercises and having the right expectations youve got to do them both together give us a like if you thought this video was helpful and please drop a comment if you have any questions and i hope that you get better real soon have a wonderful day guys. Previous attempts to make it better provided only temporary relief. 4 0 obj We love you! What made my recovery so fast? Historically, these root tears are often treated with benign neglect and either ignored or trimmed out. In particular, making sure the meniscus has a thorough release from scar tissue and making sure that ones sutures or UltraTape are placed into the best substance possible for the meniscus root repair, are important considerations to maximize the chance of healing of the revision root repair procedure. This was devastating news after being a top triathlete (3rd in the world in my age group in 1989 & 1st nationally in my age group) and a big marathon runner. I switched from trap bar deadlifts to barbell rack pulls, continued to lower the box for squats and switched from single leg deadlifts to RDLs. He had knee surgery a few months ago and is recovering remarkably well. Strength. My day is pretty much elevate the leg, ice the leg, do the exercises permitted twice a day. A meniscus root tear usually will not heal on its own. The goal of a meniscus root tear repair is to locate the torn root and tack it back down to the bone using strong sutures. Each week my leg brace is put to a different degree so I learn to bend my knee again. Conclusion: Outcomes after posterior meniscal root repair significantly improved postoperatively and patient satisfaction was high, regardless of age or meniscal laterality. 1-2 Days After Surgery: Hospitalization for meniscus surgery is typically short. Bottom line, it was pretty clear from the MRI that if I wanted to be out of pain, surgery was my only option. A sports medicine specialist will examine your knee and any relevant imaging to determine which treatment you should start with first. I dont remember how or when I tore my meniscus. Rehabilitation begins within a week of surgery. % My repair will be later this week on my right leg. Prior to that, they are recommended to use crutches. I am so glad I did! There are some isolated reports of using suture anchors to repair a meniscus root repair, but this area of the knee is very difficult to access and the suture anchors can leave large knots which could subsequently interfere with the cartilage surfaces in the knee. I highly recommend him. I decided to continue with my usual four day split with two upper body days and two lower body days, although I did also incorporate a few extra upper body exercises as my lower body work was not that intense. Please subscribe to this channel and turn on your notifications so that you dont miss a single video with great tips and advice that we put out every single week. They are connected to your tibia by meniscal roots. A meniscus can become damaged due to sudden trauma. Conservative treatment methods are typically reserved for patients who would not recover well with surgery (i.e. I was adding 10 pounds a week for deadlifts but have now switched to pause deadlifts on Tuesday and add only 5 pounds a week to the heavy deadlift. Definition/Description. Many meniscus tears can be treated successfully without surgery. MRI is used to look more closely at the meniscus and determine if it is something that needs surgical treatment, although not all meniscus root tears show up on MRI. This is because a lack of meniscus attachment at the root causes extra stress to be placed on an ACL graft and it can also result in the patient having more instability, both with anterior tibial translation, and with twisting and turning activities during the pivot shift, when there is a concurrent lateral meniscus root tear. Next, sutures are placed in the meniscal attachment and threaded through the hole in the tibia. A meniscus root tear requires the meniscus to be repaired back to the lower leg bone; this is also performed arthroscopically. drive the next day if they feel ok. There can be many factors which can potentially cause pain after a meniscus root repair. A week later, I got my MRI results and I was told that this was going to be a very long recovery, but I had other plans. Then, in September, at the Charm City Strongwoman Contest, I sprinted into the gym from the outside looking for one of my volunteers. In cases the patients undergo meniscus repair or ligament reconstruction, they are given a brace to support the knee in full extension. In between the big lifts and the accessory work, I did some of my PT exercises: leg lifts, quad sets (quad squeezes), heel pumps. Iatrogenic meniscus root tears have been described for all 4 meniscal attachments in the knee. Knee popping after meniscus surgery can occur due to fluid accumulation, scar tissue, swelling and stretching of the tendon and ligaments, weakened leg muscles, changes in patellar tracking, underlying knee arthritis, unstable meniscus, and inflamed plica. Please try again. Untreated meniscus tears can increase in size and lead to complications, such as arthritis. The transtibial meniscal root repair is emerging as the gold standard treatment due to its ability to restore a large footprint at the meniscal root's native attachment site and restore normal joint contact pressures. If the patient has or has developed significant arthritis, which is usually designated at Kellgren-Lawrence grades 3 or 4, it is felt that a revision root repair may not be indicated. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. xYIoH8(Jr@fI)/_U}|xW&JDIraqm And they can get back to normal in about two or three months after having the surgery. I was referred to Dr. Burnham from my spine doc, Chambliss Harrod, MD and he turned out to be a way cool guy. It can be very difficult to interpret an MRI after a meniscus root repair. HSS Sports Medicine Institute West Side What most people just dont get from their medical professionals is that the meniscus is a type of cartilage. In general, one can follow the small tunnels from the transtibial technique up to where the root attachment should be. Controlling inflammation and swelling is still a key in this Phase, as increased motion without proper use of cooling therapy may put your meniscus at risk for re-injury. And get the pain under control and recover normally the way that you should have once you start doing the right things. One patient was noted to have an insufficiency fracture and spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) as part of the root tear and came in in a wheelchair and she has had6 years of successful return to activities after her meniscus root repair, including hiking and cycling. Dr. Burnham and Jerrica did a great job taking care of all my orthopedic needs. This is done to protect the repair and let the body heal it. This can occur in up to 20% of patients, even in the best of circumstances. <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 12 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Drivers: The meniscus repair surgery to prevent osteoarthritis is expected to drive market development. And thats the 80% fact is true that does happen. I walked around the gym with the crutches, and without the crutches. I highly recommend Dr Burnham for your orthopedic needs hands down. Patients who have an ACL tear have a 10% chance of having a lateral meniscus root tear. Timeline: 1 week to 5 weeks after Surgery. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. At the beginning of April, I was dancing at a friends wedding when I suddenly heard and felt a loud pop in my left knee. This can occur with turning, twisting, or pivoting activities or sports. After creating two transtibial tunnels, passing sutures through the detached root of the meniscus and down the tibial tunnels, the sutures are tensioned to reduce the root of the meniscus to anatomic position. Being aware of the location of the meniscal attachments at the time of ACL and PCL surgeries is essential to minimize the chance of an iatrogenic root tear. Realize that, as discussed above, the torn part of your meniscus was removed. (it is still a bit swollen). While regular functionality isn't immediate, patients will be asked to move the knee within 1-2 days after surgery. Sutures are passed through the meniscus, and then pulled down into a bone tunnel located at the same site as the root attachment before it tore. I felt very informed and well cared for. The following Tuesday, I saw my doctor. What most people just don't get from their medical professionals is that the meniscus is a type of cartilage. Most meniscus root tears require surgery. Please help. The blood supply to the meniscus in an adolescent or adult is very poor. Life happens and our bodies will sometimes let us down. Little information has been published regarding specific rehabilitation parameters for meniscal root repairs through all phases of rehabilitation. A lateral meniscus root tear involves a tear of the meniscus either at or close to the root attachment in the back part of the lateral meniscus. I can run, bike, & climb mountains. While there are many factors that can go into extrusion, a maximum attempt should be made by the surgeon to try to pull the meniscus back in the joint to give the meniscus the best chance to function as a shock absorber after it heals. He has a great rapport with teenagers. Physical therapy exercises can help to improve muscle strength, knee range of motion, and decrease sensitivity to the pain. It was glorious. A meniscus root tear occurs when one or both of these roots tear away from the bone. We recognized that meniscus root tears were a problem over 10 years ago and set out to perform a comprehensive research program to help us figure out how to diagnose the problem, where to place the meniscus repair, and how best to fix the meniscus tear to allow for maximal healing capability. Robert LaPrade, MD, PhD In general, in our practice, most patients who do have pain after a meniscus root repair fit into this category. (including injections and arthroscopic surgery), I heard Dr. La Prade was going to practice in the Twin Cities - where I live, & waited for him, based on his renown reputation. You may need to leave a message. Definitely recommend. I had shoulder cuff repair, involving 2 ligaments & bone spurs, only 6 weeks ago. He and his staff could not have been more helpful and professional. A Guide to Orthopedic Care, Pediatric & Adolescent Sports Medicine Injuries, Get the Perfect Grip on Your Next Game: Adaptive Golf Gloves, Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge Mentions Dr. Burnham Performing New Surgery to Repair Torn ACL, Sports Medicine Near Me: Finding the Right Doctor for You, When to See a Doctor for Knee Pain When Bending: The Complete Guide, 11 Benefits of Exercise: It Can Change Your Life, Knee Bursitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options, Your Childs Knocked Knees: Everything You Need to Know, BioUni OATS Procedure Cartilage Replacement for the Knee, Capsulorraphy Shoulder Stabilization Procedure. In terms of when, one should plan to perform a meniscus root repair as soon as it is diagnosed as long as ones articular cartilage is still fairly intact. Diego has an automatic and it was my left knee that was incapaciated, not my right, so the next day, I hobbled into his car and practiced driving around the block. They might have a follow up visit or two but its really physical therapy that suppose take over at that point in physical therapy just has you for two to three months and once theyre done with you same thing once youre back to walking and bending your knee all the way and straightening out your knee all the way. Great doctor. The knee will be swollen for 2-3 months. Protect repair Minimize pain Minimize swelling A friend of mine picked me up, and took me to the gym, where I coached my clients, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing. Patients are allowed to initiate weightbearing at 6 weeks, but should avoid any significant squatting, squatting and lifting, or sitting cross-legged for a minimum of 5-6 months. Meniscal root avulsions are a challenging injury causing meniscal extrusion and loss of hoop stress distribution, which can lead to the development of knee arthritis.1 Securing the meniscus in a small bone socket has proven to be an effective means to restore hoop stresses and improve outcomes.2 The FlipCutter II reamer and meniscal root marking hook allow for a minimally invasive . In fact 2 years ago I finished climbing the top 100 peaks in CO. Also, I had to make numerous visits to the Ochsner Clinic due to my injury and Dr. Burnham's team and the staff at Ochsner were always very professional and courteous. Well, this is not normal. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Dr Burnhams bedside manner was exceptional. Amazing Doctor and wonderful staff!! If the lateral meniscus root tear is not repaired at the same time as an ACL reconstruction, it is now recognized that this could lead to ACL graft failure or loosening over time. Ive dealt with other knee doctors in prior injuries, but Dr. Burham and his team clearly stood out. Crutches will be used until the patient can walk without a limp on the repaired knee, which takes about 2 weeks after surgery. Patient Testimonials - Meniscus Root Repair Everett | OCD Repair of the Knee Kirkland X Accessibility View Book An Appointment (206) 784-8833 Wallingford Office (206) 633-8100 Ballard Office (206) 784-8833 Home My Practice Practice Expertise Patient / Medical Resources Educational Resources Videos Radio/podcasts News Contact Dr. Garcia Facebook Dr LaPrade performed a deep root repair to my meniscus, which saved me from a knee replacement at this time. If youre watching this video today, and youre considering having a meniscus surgery for your knee, then youll want to listen closely so that you dont make this mistake after you have your meniscus surgery. I am now adding 10 pounds a week to the bar for squats. But typically physical therapy goes two to three months you get 80% better and a lot of times people have the expectation setting themselves that they can get back to everything that theyre doing before and thats just not the case they can do a lot of things now that they couldnt before the surgery typically. I plan to squat 135 pounds for three sets of five on this day and am scheduled to deadlift 200 pounds on August 23. Easy to talk to and will answer any questions of your care. Phase I of Rehab: Surgery until 8 weeks. In terms of how, the transtibial technique has been felt to be the most effective way to pull the meniscus root back to its normal attachment site. The . Two important criteria exist to begin driving after meniscus surgery. A possible cause for knee pain 1 year after meniscus surgery would be a re-tear of the meniscus. This happens way more often than I like to admit. Thank you, Dr. LaPrade, for treating me with the care, focus, and expertise as if I was an Olympic athlete!- From your 63 year old very appreciative patent ~. I did a little internet searching, and diagnosed myself with a Bakers Cyst, which I discovered was pretty common with meniscus tears. Great shoulder doc. The meniscus has 3 main zones, the 1) posterior horn, the 2) body, and the 3) anterior horn. The arthroscopic meniscus repair is a procedure done to repair torn knee cartilage, usually for athletes. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee, often injured in sports. The mini First-Pass device allows placement of either a suture or an UltraTape through the substance of the meniscus, capturing the end of the stitch as it is placed through the meniscus and then it can be pulled out of the joint. His step by step explanation of surgery expectations before and after the procedure was specific, thorough, and answered all of my questions. It was press/bench day, so I set up for some seated presses and dragged a stool over to prop my left leg up while I benched. The pain during my recovery has actually only been minimal, requiring no pain meds. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. These are totally different. Your care after surgery may involve: Crutches to take stress off the knee as it heals. You will feel tired for several days. <> I have been very pleased with him at each visit..It's been almost 2 years since my meniscus root tear surgery and I have to say my knee feels great. I was told it would be about 6 weeks, but my instructions are to wear a brace at full extension for the duration of this time. Then, in January of 2018, while warming up in class one morning, a sharp, nauseating pain shot through my left knee, which made me start limping. Many patients who do have a meniscus root tear note that they feel a pop in the back of the knee when they are doing squatting activities, such as cleaning floors, gardening, placing down carpet or plumbing. You should also be able use your leg for driving after one to two weeks, as long as you're not taking opiate pain medication. Thus, the entire weight of the body is transmitted through the femur into the cartilage of the knee. To learn more, please visit our, If it is your left knee, you can probably drive very shortly after. Strength is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to proceed with a meniscus root repair whenever possible, with patients up to the age of 70 being reported as having excellent return of function. The most important thing as one gets older is the quality of the cartilage present. It is vital that meniscus repair patients do not squat for at least four months after the repair. I have two good arms, and a good leg. I was worried for my future with my legs letting me walk but she put me at ease letting me know she will do everything in her power to fix me or send me to whatever specialist I need to see to make sure I have a good chance walking in my future, and they all truly fantastic doctors. The second step is to prepare a bony bed where the meniscus repair will be performed. Removal Repair Example of Root Tear Repair Q: HOW DOES THE SURGEON DECIDE WHETHER TO PERFORM A REPAIR OR REMOVAL? This is called decortication of the medial tibial plateau (for a medial meniscus root repair). Steadman Clinic, 181 W Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657, USA (email: drlaprade . What could you eat or do for a meniscus tear to heal faster after surgery? Had I not been training all these years, I would not have had the slightest idea of how to rehab my knee after surgery. I would highly recommend Dr Burnham and all of his surrounding colleagues at Ochsner. The general published success rate for a meniscus root repair is between 80% and 85%. Other complications can include a blood clot, which is usually treated preemptively with some type of blood thinner, and irritation around the surgical button and/or surgical knot from the meniscus root tear.