My repair will be later this week on my right leg. Contact Dr. Nwachukwus team today! If it is your right knee, it will be at least a week before you can drive, as it would be risky to have to hit the break too soon after surgery, and you would be a risk to yourself and everyone else on the road. And its a lot slower for the remaining, you know, six to nine months after the first two or three months. My right knee was totally destroyed; ACL, MCL, PCL all severely torn; the patella was the only thing intact in my right knee. In addition, there is no low age for meniscus repairs, with some root repairs being done in patients as young as 6 or 7 years old. My MRI showed an extensive radial tear adjacent to the medial meniscus root insertion, as well as evidence of high-grade chondral loss involving the central trochlea. And if we know anything about cartilage, if you want to look this up, it takes about six up to 12 months to fully heal depending on the severity of that injury on the meniscus on that cartilage. Identifying and properly treating meniscus tears (with or without surgery) will lead to the most rapid reduction in your symptoms and is crucial to optimize the long term health of your knee. During the procedure, Dr. Vidal will isolate the root, pull it against the tibia and place sutures in the meniscal attachment. 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 switched from trap bar deadlifts to barbell rack pulls, continued to lower the box for squats and switched from single leg deadlifts to RDLs. My surgery was at 8:30am Wednesday, February 20. PDF Knee Arthroscopy Meniscus Root Surgery FAQ - Twin Cities Orthopedics This happens way more often than I like to admit. But now I know more about the body, about rehab, and about what being stronger really means. Healing kind of goes fast the beginning and then it tapers off. It can be very difficult to interpret an MRI after a meniscus root repair. One should assess the range of motion at that point in time that can be performed in a safe zone to make sure that the physical therapist does not flex them harder in this time frame. In general, one can follow the small tunnels from the transtibial technique up to where the root attachment should be. They can occur in younger patients as a result of high energy trauma, but are more common in patients between 45 and 60 as a result of degeneration of the meniscus with age. %PDF-1.5 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. And I feel my rode to recovery will be wonderful. Many surgeons will tie the meniscus root repair with the knee bent, so that one can start motion right after surgery and not have to worry about the meniscus root repair being stretched out. He answered all my questions satisfactorily and his entire staff were polite and professional. Meniscus repair recovery While everyone's recovery is different, here's what you can typically expect with a repair surgery: You may be on crutches for four to six weeks. It was tough, and it hurt like hell, but I took it slowly. stream But its just not common knowledge to take six to 12 months to heal after a meniscus surgery. The meniscus has 3 main zones, the 1) posterior horn, the 2) body, and the 3) anterior horn. So its important at the very beginning its appropriate at the very beginning to make sure that all your emotions back and that you can do some simple walking to and from the house even though hurts so that youre not you know having accidents and better so youre not having emergencies happening you need the function of your leg back. We are so grateful and thankful. You may need surgery to restore full knee function. Dr Burnham is so personable. I have two good arms, and a good leg. Strength is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Removal Repair Example of Root Tear Repair Q: HOW DOES THE SURGEON DECIDE WHETHER TO PERFORM A REPAIR OR REMOVAL? Browse archives. short distances based on their motion and Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Repair Using a Transtibial Technique 2700 Vikings Circle (C, D) Arthrex MU (multiuse) guide with 6-mm FlipCutter drill positioned on footprint of posterior root of lateral meniscus. Many tears have better outcomes if they are treated early. (it is still a bit swollen). Stationary biking is allowed after 6-weeks with Dr. Nwachukwus approval and assessment of healing. I am currently on crutches for 6-8 weeks with no pressure on my leg at all. I also found that there were patients being referred to me who had meniscus root repairs that were done well, but the meniscus was not pulled back in the joint and these patients continued to have pain. Yet, if you feel discomfort, you can take over-the-counter pain medication. I am now adding 10 pounds a week to the bar for squats. They are connected to your tibia by meniscal roots. Meniscus Root Repair & Recovery | Emily Socolinsky - Starting Strength On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, I had a meniscus root repair surgery on my left knee. Meniscus Root Repair - Joint Replacement Patient Forum Takes his time with you and doesn't hurry to rush out of the room if you have questions. The thoughtful, open communication and treatment was everything I could have asked for pre-, during, and now post surgery. Meniscal root tears: Solving the silent epidemic - Journal of So getting swelling, or if its been a year since you had your meniscus surgery, and youre better overall, but youre still getting some swelling and pain, then its normal. Sometimes the meniscus damage occurs more gradually as part of degeneration. 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. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. I had a traumatic knee injury that he performed surgery on. This technically challenging procedure should only be done by an orthopedic knee expert like Dr. Nwachukwu who has had extensive experience in performing the meniscal root tear repair correctly. Easy to talk to and will answer any questions of your care. 3 0 obj Meniscus root repair | Knee Problems | Forums | Patient Keeping each meniscus in place are two roots that attach to the tibia (shin bone). Meniscal root repair is a procedure that is performed to stabilize a torn meniscus attachment to the tibia (shinbone). It has now been demonstrated that the results of meniscectomies are almost the same as not treating the meniscus root tear at all with a large number of patients within 5 years proceeding to needing a total knee arthroplasty. Meniscal Ramp Lesions. Meniscus Tears: Why You Should Not Let Them Go Untreated You can schedule an office consultation with Dr. LaPrade. 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. Squatting, lifting from a squat and sitting cross-legged should be avoided for 3-4 months. Really cares for his patients! In the end he offered the best treatment for me.This is the first time in months that I have felt myself. Medial meniscus root repair midterm results suggest excellent outcomes in a well-aligned knee with minimal degenerative change. I'm able to run and exercise without pain. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped pad of cartilage located in the knee that helps stabilize and . The next day, my left knee blew up to the size of a grapefruit. Meniscal Root Tears - Dr. Chris Jones Colorado Springs, CO And cartilage is one of the slowest healing tissues in the body. 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. According to a new study, it is safe for patients who underwent rotator cuff repair to safely return to driving two weeks after surgery. How long did you have to avoid driving after meniscus surgery? Studies have demonstrated that this type of repair technique restores similar shock-absorbing and cushioning function as normal meniscus before it tore. I went to Dr. Burnham for issues I was having with my shoulders. Im telling you right now its going to take six to 12 months just erase that number that they gave you in your head and i wouldnt go argue with them because they may not have all the knowledge and understanding behind it and truth be told surgeons oftentimes you know once they finish their surgery theyre kind of done with you. If you had a knee surgery if youve been seen physical therapy or any other health care professionals and theyre telling you youll be fine in three months back to normal youll be dancing youll be exercising youll be playing with the grandkids again just smile and remember this video. In addition, we looked at varying suture techniques through the meniscus, including 2 simple sutures, as well as other configurations of meniscus suture techniques, which are more complex. A meniscus repair to the knee cartilage is a minimally invasive surgery that can normally be performed on an outpatient basis. Most patients with meniscal root tears will ultimately need surgical fixation of the root. 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 often report hearing a pop at the time of injury. Dr. Burnham was very thorough with his examination and diagnosis. And its really concerning and very disappointing for somebody whos gone through the knee surgery. We use the 2-tunnel technique to maximize biologic healing of the meniscus down to a broad surface. importance of the meniscus root has become more apparent. Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) Reconstruction . And this channel is dedicated to helping people stay healthy, active and mobile. Dr. Burnham and Jerrica are AMAZING! In fact 2 years ago I finished climbing the top 100 peaks in CO. How long do you have to avoid driving after meniscus tear surgery Many meniscus tears can be treated successfully without surgery. As of August 20, 2019, it will be six months post-op. After about two hours, I got up, crutched into the kitchen, brewed a pot of coffee and made myself some pancakes. The next steps involve placing self-capture sutures into the end of the meniscus root and then drilling cannulas into the area that was decorticated such that the sutures placed into the meniscus can be shuttled down the cannulas and then tied over the tibia. 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 did a few jungle gym rows, and finished with planks. Specializes in Orthopedic Reconstructive Surgery. I opened my gym shortly after taking up strength training in earnest to help address my back pain, and have been working for the past eight years to help others embrace their true potential and strength. 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. I got rid of the box for squats the end of July. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) Naproxen (Aleve) When the tear is examined during arthroscopy, Dr. Hess will decide if the tear is able to be repaired . It can create another problem later on youve got to listen to your knee youve got to listen to your body and make sure that you only go with what you can tolerate without making it worse without swelling pain or definitely not losing motion and you might consider staying in physical therapy longer than they want you to or finding something to help you out. Most meniscus root tears occur very close to the root near the meniscus itself and are called radial root tears. He made my daughter feel comfortable and made sure to listen to both of our concerns prior to his diagnosis. Edina, MN 55435, EAGAN-VIKING LAKES OFFICE And they can get back to normal in about two or three months after having the surgery. 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. Posterior Meniscal Root Repair Using a Meniscal Suture Device And then they lose motion. I press and bench with no modifications. We love you! If I had not spent the last several years of my life squatting, benching, pressing and deadlifting, I would not have had the strength to continue to be as active as I was after my surgery, and I most certainly would not have known how to rehab my knee on my own. But if we are stronger, we are harder to break, and we most certainly recover faster and better. 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. Treatment Outcomes of Meniscal Root Tears: A Systematic Review The Biggest Mistake People Make After Knee Meniscus Surgery If not even worse. (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. Upon examination, the doctor told me that I most likely had a meniscus tear, and that I should get an MRI. His MA Michelle was very professional and kind. What made my recovery so fast? Did you have any meniscus surgery in the past and youre still dealing with pain, swelling and possibly even losing motion in your knee? Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. GREAT DOCTOR VERY CARING AND KNOWLEDGEABLE!! 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. 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. Jerrica, Dr. Burnham, and the therapy staff (Luke and Joey )were awesome. Each horn is anchored to the bone at the meniscus root (anterior and posterior). I really like and appreciate the time and effort he commits to research. Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. In addition, if the medial meniscus is involved, active Continuing to train, moving it as much as I could, bearing weight as much as I could tolerate, not sitting around, and NOT just doing PT exercises 1-2x times a week. Meniscus root repair vs meniscectomy or nonoperative management to prevent knee osteoarthritis after medial meniscus root tears: Clinical and economic effectiveness. 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. When I returned home around 1pm that day, I sat in my living room for a bit, emailing and texting people to let them know I was alive and well. The next step involves using a self-capture device to place either sutures or tape into the substance of the meniscus body. When you put weight on your leg, it is the meniscal roots that transfer the axial loading forces of the knee into hoop stress in the meniscus. However, we felt that with a 6-week period of being nonweightbearing important for all meniscus root tears, that the 2 simple suture technique was valid. Had I not been training all these years, I would not have had the slightest idea of how to rehab my knee after surgery. Unlike some meniscus tears which can be observed or treated conservatively, most meniscus root tears need surgery. Meniscal root repairs and radial tear repairs should be progressed slowly because the tear involves complete disruption of the circumferential fibers of the meniscus. It can also occur while bending the knee deeply. 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. Figure 5:: Cortical fixation of transtibial meniscal root repair. These radial root tears are equivalent to a meniscus root tear. I was still taking aspirin to prevent clotting after surgery, and I also tried to put as much weight on the left leg as I was allowed, and then more. From April 22 until May 1, my program changed again, slowly becoming more like my regular training. My day is pretty much elevate the leg, ice the leg, do the exercises permitted twice a day. Meniscus Root Repair | Orthopedic Knee Surgeon | Vail, Aspen, Denver I have no issues taking the stairs, just a little knee discomfort here and there. The general published success rate for a meniscus root repair is between 80% and 85%. The average pain levels after a meniscus root repair fit between a basic knee arthroscopy (minimal pain) and an ACL reconstruction (more severe pain). Steadman Clinic, 181 W Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657, USA (email: drlaprade . How long after surgery for a meniscus tear will i be able to drive again. This hoop stress is resisted by fibers that run circumferentially through the meniscus. Well, this is not normal. They moved my knee a bit, and I had decent ROM, better than expected. Meniscus root tears are a particularly troublesome type of meniscus tear, because a failure to treat them can often result in the rapid development of osteoarthritis. An iatrogenic meniscus root tear means that a tunnel was drilled for an ACL or PCL reconstruction and hit the meniscus root and detached it from bone. Weight bearing as tolerated after 6 weeks. A friend of mine picked me up, and took me to the gym, where I coached my clients, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing. 4 0 obj Each week my leg brace is put to a different degree so I learn to bend my knee again. He and his staff could not have been more helpful and professional. Meniscal Repair. And thats the 80% fact is true that does happen. Rehabilitation Following Meniscal Root Repair: A Clinical - JOSPT Should a meniscus tear repair surgery be hurting 7 weeks post-operation? Does having a cortisone shot help a meniscus tear or is surgery the only option? And most likely, a meniscus tear.. This results in premature arthritis and cartilage damage in the knee. Ive dealt with other knee doctors in prior injuries, but Dr. Burham and his team clearly stood out. He is amazing and a blessing to have in the medical industry. Normally, you should refrain from driving for at least 1 week after an arthroscopic knee operation, until the swelling reduces and the knee motion improves, but you should establish with your doctor when it is safe to start driving. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Bottom line, it was pretty clear from the MRI that if I wanted to be out of pain, surgery was my only option. This allows the meniscus to heal back to the bone. So go check out that video on how to exercise your glutes theres five exercises in there that you can start doing them i would do them every day i do them a couple times a day even more if you can i would do what you can tolerate without it being too much soreness and your glute muscles and they should all generally be okay on your knee theres some where you got to kneel you can adjust it you can not do that exercise if you want. When a tear of the meniscal root, or even a tear near the root, occurs, the meniscus can no longer convert axial loading forces into hoop stresses. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. The blood supply to the meniscus in an adolescent or adult is very poor. Life happens and our bodies will sometimes let us down. I asked when I could start driving, and he said when I was off my pain medication. A sports medicine specialist will examine your knee and any relevant imaging to determine which treatment you should start with first. Get answers from Family Physicians and top U.S. doctors, Our doctors evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, order lab tests, and recommend follow-up care. It is our goal to provide the highest level of care and service to our patients. Meniscus repair rehab protocol. Please help. The results of meniscus root repairs in the literature are encouraging, but more improvement is necessary in the future. 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. PDF Meniscus Root Repair Rehabilitation Protocol If one does a meniscus root repair in that extruded position, the chance of a meniscus root repair working over the long term is very minimal. However, if the meniscus re-tore or is placed into a non-anatomic position and ones cartilage surfaces are still fairly intact, an attempt at a revision repair should be made. When these are torn, the loading of the joint is equivalent to having no meniscus on the affected side. After you have surgery to repair a meniscus tear, you may need to build up your strength in the muscles of your leg that support your knee. How long recovery takes depends on the type of meniscus surgery and the severity of the injury, but expect two weeks down time, at minimum. It has been found that one suture alone for the repair does not work well, so a minimum of 2 sutures is required to maximize meniscal healing. After repairing the meniscus root, it is imperative that the patient remain 100% non-weight bearing for 6 weeks. Drivers: The meniscus repair surgery to prevent osteoarthritis is expected to drive market development. Please try again. The second step is to prepare a bony bed where the meniscus repair will be performed. So that means youre good to go after two to three months. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. Multiple large loose bodies were removed from my knee joint, the largest of which measured approximately 20mm. Using specific guides to ensure that one can place tunnels in the anatomic position and using self-capture devices, which have been devised to be small enough to not scuff up the cartilage, are some of the best means to perform a transtibial meniscus root repair with self-capture devices. 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. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. The meniscus root attachment is important because if the meniscus becomes detached, it can squirt out of the joint, called extrusion, which can lead to the meniscus not being functional. drive the next day if they feel ok. I have see all three orthopedic doctors at the Grove and Jerrica is the one I see the most and the latest she's absolutely wonderful. The exception is a patient that has contra-indications to surgery or already has too much cartilage wear and tear for the root repair to be beneficial. You have two roots per meniscus which include anterior and posterior roots. <> We will determine during your consultation whether general or regional anesthesia would be appropriate - either way, no pain will be experienced during the procedure itself. 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. 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. I never met a doctor and his team that showed some much compassion about their patient. Rehabilitation Guidelines for Meniscal Repair of Root and Complex Tears Meniscus root tears usually occur in patients with deep flexion such as skiers, or home gardeners, plumbers, or carpet layers or people doing similar activities. The torn meniscus is corrected via a minimally invasive procedure depending on the kind of injury. 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. After Meniscus Surgery: What To Expect In The First Few Days And Weeks 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 why answer is that the meniscus root is an important stabilizer to the meniscus to ensure that it can function as effectively as possible as a shock absorber. And theres things that you can do, which Ill allude to here in the middle. Dr. Burnham made sure I knew what was happening and what could happen. I'm taking pain meds regularly to try and ease pain. The . 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. Iatrogenic meniscus root tears have been described for all 4 meniscal attachments in the knee. Stated to me , in detail, what to expect and how long my recovery will take. What most people just don't get from their medical professionals is that the meniscus is a type of cartilage. Procedure for Meniscus Root Repair. And if youve never worked out your glutes if you went through physical therapy never really targeted your glutes ever you better start quick because chances are youve got a muscle imbalance thats caused extra pressures inside your knee thats led to that meniscus tear to begin with thats been the root problem and glute strength is what offsets that forces inside the knee so that your meniscus can heal all the way. After about five minutes, the wheels were spinning. 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. Walk with crutches. Types of root tears: #JimmyWinkfield is 1 of 5 men to win the prestigious twitter.com/i/web/status/1, What are #loosebodies in the #hip? An ACL tear commonly has a pop on the outside of the knee, whereas a patient who has meniscus root tear commonly feels a pop in the back of the knee. A meniscal repair or arthroscopic meniscectomy is a surgical procedure to repair a torn meniscus via keyhole surgery. This can occur in up to 20% of patients, even in the best of circumstances. In younger patients, meniscus root tears often occur with a piece of bone being avulsed off the tibia. Patient Testimonials - Meniscus Root Repair Everett | OCD Repair of the These two steps are considered to be the two main preparation steps, where the release of adhesions to be able to allow the meniscus to be pulled back in the joint and also decortication of bone to prepare a bony bed to repair the meniscus back to the tibia.