Trust Your Meniscus or Ligament Repair to Dignity Health
Meniscus or ligament repair is surgery to fix a damaged or torn ligament or meniscus. The meniscus is a dense fiber structure in your knee joint that cushions the space between your shinbone (tibia) and thighbone (femur). The ligaments hold the knee joint together.
A torn ligament or meniscus can happen to anyone, but is especially common among athletes. For instance, a sprain or complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the front of the knee is a common injury in sports that involve jumping and pivoting motions. About half of ACL injuries occur with damage to the meniscus or other parts of the knee.
Whether you injured your knee playing sports or doing housework, seeing a doctor right away provides the best chance for a fast recovery. Committed to your health and well-being, highly trained orthopedic surgeons at Dignity Health perform meniscus and ligament repair in Sacramento, CA and the surrounding areas. To learn more, Find a Doctor or call (916) 851-2511 for a doctor referral.
Performing Meniscus or Ligament Repair in the Sacramento Region
Using the latest methods and tools, our orthopedic surgeons perform minimally invasive (arthroscopic) surgery to repair meniscus or ligament injuries, preserve healthy tissue, and restore function to your knee.
If the outer part of your meniscus is torn, it’s possible for it to heal on its own because it has a rich blood supply. Surgical repair may be an option if other treatments such as physical therapy have been unsuccessful. A tear in the inner part is unlikely to heal because it has a poor blood supply. Removing the damaged meniscus will help avoid future problems.
Ligament repair may be necessary for complete tears as well as partial tears that continue to cause persistent knee instability after three months of nonsurgical treatments.
At Dignity Health, arthroscopic meniscus or ligament repair is an outpatient procedure performed at one of our six state-of-the-art hospitals. It typically takes less than two hours, and you will generally go home the same day. You may have either general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia, which numbs you from the waist down.
You might experience stiffness, swelling, or pain after surgery. Your orthopedic care team will treat these symptoms immediately after surgery and provide you with detailed instructions on how to continue care at home.
Recovering From a Torn Meniscus or Ligament
After surgery, you might be in a cast or brace or use crutches. You will likely need medication to manage pain and antibiotics to prevent infection. Provided by one of our professionals, home exercises and physical therapy can help with strengthening, improving range of motion, and restoring mobility.
Full recovery may take around six months, but you should be able to resume your light activities after a few weeks. Our experts will help you every step of the way.
Dignity Health is proud to provide advanced meniscus or ligament repair in Sacramento and surrounding areas.