And cartilage is one of the slowest healing tissues in the body. Squatting, lifting from a squat and sitting cross-legged should be avoided for 3-4 months. Drivers: The meniscus repair surgery to prevent osteoarthritis is expected to drive market development. 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. Really a national leader in sports medicine! After hours 763-520-7870 Address Maple Grove 9630 Grove Circle N., Suite 200 Maple Grove, MN 55369 Minnetonka 15450 Highway 7, Suite 100 Minnetonka, MN 55345 Robbinsdale 3366 Oakdale Ave. N Suite 103 Robbinsdale, MN 55422 Knee Meniscus Root . Often, a patient will be placed into an unloader brace if they are bowlegged to take some of the stress off the healing repair. 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. 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. In particular, it has been found that one of the most common reasons why younger patients need total knee replacements is because of a neglected or undiagnosed meniscus root tear leading to the development of osteoarthritis. W;5$u4Yxa_V_bm}q8=^_qbY,H(+",X'{|oMs"&A;3.E s&L=Z`)!]$],b }zb& Y@dy.Lif1:4@"Fz"U2`/h0|6^T&}56+Q:Dn{d:rqW@3 7 U. Thank you Dr. Burnham and Jerrica for everything! This allows the meniscus to heal back to the bone. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other commonly abused medications. My calf swelled up into my ankles. Iatrogenic meniscus root tears have been described for all 4 meniscal attachments in the knee. There are 2 main variants of the transtibial root repair technique. If a meniscal root tear is left untreated, meniscal extrusion can occur rendering the meniscus nonfunctional resulting in degenerative arthritis. The most important thing as one gets older is the quality of the cartilage present. Country. The drill tip can then be pulled out, leaving the cannula in place, which allows one to place a passing stich up it to subsequently shuttle sutures down the tibial tunnel. This technique allows for the meniscus to be pulled down into a broad surface area, maximizing its chance for biologic healing. 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. Other common symptoms include limping, a change in the patients gait and the inability to put weight on the affected knee. It was tough, and it hurt like hell, but I took it slowly. Strength. We recommend the use of 2 cannulas such that the meniscus can be pulled down over a broader area and have a better chance of healing to the bone. Life happens and our bodies will sometimes let us down. Deconditioning of ones quadriceps muscles can also cause similar symptoms, so it is important to determine if one has any atrophy of their thigh muscles, usually measured as the thigh circumference 15 cm above the patella and compared to the opposite leg. (C, D) Arthrex MU (multiuse) guide with 6-mm FlipCutter drill positioned on footprint of posterior root of lateral meniscus. And the good news is that it can be helped without another surgery. Conservative treatment methods are typically reserved for patients who would not recover well with surgery (i.e. Most importantly, I have not missed a single coaching or training session since my surgery. My repair will be later this week on my right leg. I decided right then and there I would not get the MRI. Malempati C. Bonasia DE, Pellegrino P, DAmelio A, Cottino U, Rossi R. Meniscal Root Tear Repair: Why, When and How? Dr. Robert F. LaPrade operated on my right knee in May of 2010. First, we performed quantitative anatomy studies, which allowed us to see exactly where a meniscus root tear should be reattached. 5 wks into recovery of acl/meniscus tear surgery, I am still taking pain medicine. Your doctor may give you a nerve block before surgery and will prescribe pain-relieving medications after surgery. Later that summer, the left knee began to bother meagain. 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. Patients who have an ACL tear have a 10% chance of having a lateral meniscus root tear. Healing kind of goes fast the beginning and then it tapers off. When these are torn, the loading of the joint is equivalent to having no meniscus on the affected side. Next, we performed biomechanical studies to show the effects of varying sizes of radial meniscus root tears, validating that a meniscus root tear within a centimeter of its attachment site functions as a meniscus root tear and can be treated the same. If one has too much arthritis, then the chance of a meniscus root repair helping one to slow down the progression of arthritis is probably not worth having the meniscus root repaired. Placing sutures or UltraTape on each side of the tear and pulling it down into tunnels should be a safe and reliable method for a bony avulsion root repair. 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. In addition, because of studies from our biomechanical studies showing significant stress on the meniscus with deep flexion, as well as the fact that many meniscus root tears occur with deep flexion, we have patients avoid squatting, squatting and lifting and sitting cross-legged (which puts extra stress on a root repair) for a minimum of 4 months postoperatively to maximize the healing potential. The roots of the meniscus are responsible for transmitting weight evenly across the surface of the tibia. Next, sutures are placed in the meniscal attachment and threaded through the hole in the tibia. I am so glad I did! I did a little internet searching, and diagnosed myself with a Bakers Cyst, which I discovered was pretty common with meniscus tears. After a meniscus root repair, there is a prolonged period of non-weightbearing and restricted range of motion to allow proper healing. Most of these types of injuries, that are symptomatic, require surgery. 515 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Suite 1100, Charlottesville, VA 22903 Phone: 434-243-7778 Fax: 434-243-5075 Meniscal Root Repair Post-operative Rehabilitation Protocol. As always, Dr. Burnham and his staff were caring, knowledgeable & professional at my recent visit. 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. A meniscus root tear occurs when one or both of these roots tear away from the bone. 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 ~. 3 0 obj Stated to me , in detail, what to expect and how long my recovery will take. Medial meniscus root repair midterm results suggest excellent outcomes in a well-aligned knee with minimal degenerative change. Doctor Burnham and his staff were so helpful providing all the pros and cons associated with having surgery. The root attachments of the posterior horns of the medial and lateral meniscus are very important for joint health. importance of the meniscus root has become more apparent. Proper fixation of the meniscal root can prevent or slow down the development of arthritis in that area of the knee. Often, when a meniscus root is torn, it will retract in the joint and become stuck in place. Is this a tear? 4 0 obj When the tear is examined during arthroscopy, Dr. Hess will decide if the tear is able to be repaired . 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. I also started boxing sessions once a week with one of my coaches as I am not allowed to start back to BJJ until September. Multiple large loose bodies were removed from my knee joint, the largest of which measured approximately 20mm. 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 RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) principle can be useful in the first several days after a meniscus tear to help reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain. Why would I? I have looked many times for answers on my tibial tubercle osteotomy and never found any as detailed as i needed. The next portion of the Smith & Nephew root repair device is a mini First-Pass device. repair to heal. Dr. Burnham took time to explain the surgery & what to expect during recovery, answering all my questions (& there were many). Many meniscus tears can be treated successfully without surgery. 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. <>/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>> And Im a specialist physical therapist El Paso manual physical therapy. Non-anatomic root repairs do not restore normal joint biomechanics . This technique is fast and effective. Very reassuring, showed me X-rays and explained the healing process very clearly. I have no issues taking the stairs, just a little knee discomfort here and there. This hoop stress is resisted by fibers that run circumferentially through the meniscus. And this channel is dedicated to helping people stay healthy, active and mobile. They walked me through the process from beginning to end. The aftercare and recovery require postoperative protection to allow healing. Had a meniscus root repair yesterday and the surgery was successful. Your doctor put a lighted tubecalled an arthroscope or scopeand other surgical tools through small cuts (incisions) in your knee. Historically, most root tears were treated with meniscectomies because the importance of the meniscus root as a shock absorber was not well known. Easy to talk to and will answer any questions of your care. Eagan, MN 55121, I struggled with my knee for 18 months - having gone from 10,000 steps a day to only walking as needed. This is because the signs of arthritis are usually pain and swelling with activities. Dr. Burnham was very thorough and took the time to explain what he thought my root problem may be, why, and how he suggested we proceed with my care. If a patient does have a meniscus root tear and the cartilage in that same compartment is still relatively good or normal, a meniscus root repair would be indicated. A meniscus repair to the knee cartilage is a minimally invasive surgery that can normally be performed on an outpatient basis. With an injury like this you want the best, and Dr. Burnham is the best. I could no longer deadlift from the floor, and was having trouble squatting below parallel. The healing phase is long, but he does A+ work. 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. Meniscus root repair surgeon, Doctor Benedict Nwachukwu provides diagnosis as well as surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Manhattan, New York City, NY who need meniscus root repair surgery. According to a new study, it is safe for patients who underwent rotator cuff repair to safely return to driving two weeks after surgery. The second tip i need you to take home today is you need to listen to your knee because after youre on your own and youre youre supposed to be 80% better theres things that youll be able to do and go ahead and do those as long as they dont hurt or bother you or cause some effects later on that day or the next day then theyre generally going to be okay things for you to do you can probably do some walking but walking you know a few miles maybe not very comfortable for you that may set off the swelling that may hurt you more. 2700 Vikings Circle 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. My 14 year old son originally went in to see Dr. Burnham very scared (he hadn't had an injury before) and he was instantly made to feel at ease. I am now adding 10 pounds a week to the bar for squats. 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. 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. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. He is amazing and a blessing to have in the medical industry. Meniscus root repair rehab will usually start 1-2 days after surgery. 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. We found that the technique was very successful at restoring function to patients and significantly reducing their pain. I was cleared from physical therapy on May 16, 2019, about three months after my surgery, and after only six PT sessions. 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. Therefore, most meniscus root tears need to have the scar tissue released so the meniscus can be pulled back into the joint. Being stronger is always better than being weak. I plan to squat 135 pounds for three sets of five on this day and am scheduled to deadlift 200 pounds on August 23. Thursday: 8:00 am 5:00 pm, What causes #runners knee or patellofemoral pain syndrome? Surgical repair can successfully allow the meniscus to heal. A meniscal repair or arthroscopic meniscectomy is a surgical procedure to repair a torn meniscus via keyhole surgery. He answered all of my concerns about my knee. Contact Dr. Nwachukwus team today! In younger patients, meniscus root tears often occur with a piece of bone being avulsed off the tibia. Among them, 32.60% demonstrated incomplete healing, loosening of the construct, or excessive scar tissues formation. Get answers from Family Physicians and top U.S. doctors, Our doctors evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, order lab tests, and recommend follow-up care. Conclusion: Outcomes after posterior meniscal root repair significantly improved postoperatively and patient satisfaction was high, regardless of age or meniscal laterality. He spent a great amount of time explaining everything to me in a way that I understood everything. Factors Affecting Meniscus Tear Healing and Prognosis AOSSM Lecture from Jeremy Burnham, Ochsner-Andrews Sports Medicine Institute, Copyright 2022Jeremy Burnham, M.D. Ill def refer friends and family! We love you! Thank you. Studies comparing repair with either meniscectomy or conservative treatment found greater improvement and slower . I wont ever go anywhere else. 4. Bottom line, it was pretty clear from the MRI that if I wanted to be out of pain, surgery was my only option. Most patients will have pain with squatting and deep knee flexion with a root tear because a meniscus root tear occurs in the back of the knee. Very professional! This happens way more often than I like to admit. 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. 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. The High Tech Shirt Problem in the Squat Rusty Holcomb, Observations on Training by an Old Guy Phil Ringman. Most meniscus root tears require surgery. 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. I'm able to run and exercise without pain. And cartilage is one of the slowest healing tissues in the body. Should a meniscus tear repair surgery be hurting 7 weeks post-operation? Previous attempts to make it better provided only temporary relief. I had shoulder cuff repair, involving 2 ligaments & bone spurs, only 6 weeks ago. #JimmyWinkfield is 1 of 5 men to win the prestigious twitter.com/i/web/status/1, What are #loosebodies in the #hip? 2601 E. Yandell Drive, Suite 232 The meniscus is a very important piece of cartilage in the knee. He provided a thorough explanation without wasting time. In some instances, the meniscus posterior horn may need to be released from scar tissue to allow it to be repositioned. El Paso, Texas 79903. Arner, J.W., Herbst, E.. Meniscal Root Repair Article. The results of meniscus root repairs in the literature are encouraging, but more improvement is necessary in the future. stream He will now be caring for my hip and knee in the future. Begin passive range of motion exercises Start physical therapy or home exercise program 1-3 days after surgery Work on quad recruitment Brace/Crutch Use 25% weight bearing with crutches, brace 0-90 when ambulating and sleeping, can remove . 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. In fact 2 years ago I finished climbing the top 100 peaks in CO. In addition, the other factor is if the meniscus was released significantly enough from scar tissue to pull it back into the joint. Please try again. (it is still a bit swollen). (Please keep reading below for more information on this treatment.). Patients are allowed to walk 4-6 weeks after surgery. He has a great rapport with teenagers. My name is Dr. David Middaugh. dressing in 48 hrs and may let them drive Meniscal root repairs and radial tear repairs should be progressed slowly because the tear involves complete disruption of the circumferential fibers of the meniscus. The back attachment of the medial meniscus, called a posterior horn attachment, is the most common location for meniscus root tears to occur. It was glorious. 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. I was going to rehab myself, and keep training as normally as I could. These results reveal that, since all the variables and possible concomitant injuries are investigated and addressed, MRR . Historically, these root tears are often treated with benign neglect and either ignored or trimmed out. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. 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. But you need to still continue doing a few things to make sure that you get that remaining 20% healed so that you can truly get back to normal so let me give you some practical advice here three things that i want you to take away from this video number one set your expectations. To accomplish this goal, Dr. Nwachukwu drills a small hole from the outside of the tibia (shin bone) into the knee joint next to the natural attachment of the meniscus root. When I woke up I was in significant pain but the nurses had it under control by the time I left. I dont remember how or when I tore my meniscus. I walked around the gym with the crutches, and without the crutches. As of August 20, 2019, it will be six months post-op. Very thorough, knowledgeable and courteous. Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. I have two good arms, and a good leg. 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. When one drills a tunnel and tries to place stitches up a tunnel without a cannula in place, it can be extremely technically challenging. I am currently on crutches for 6-8 weeks with no pressure on my leg at all. Theyre kind of done with you too but what if you want to go play with the grandkids do you want to kneel what do you want to exercise youve got to set your expectations to still take it easy still rehab or strengthen the right muscles or do the right kind of treatment for yourself so that you can continue to heal. amount of, supply and beyond the age of 15 has limited healing without surgery. Thus, when one does sustain a lateral meniscus root tear with an ACL tear, consideration should be given to having a concurrent lateral meniscus root repair so the ACL graft does not stretch out. 4010 W. 65th St. Super knowledgeable. What was going to help my knee? I was very pleased seeing Dr. Burnham, however I was not pleased to learn I was expected to pay an additional co- pay within the same week to receive the results of my MRI. So that means youre good to go after two to three months. There goes my knee again.. % 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. When the meniscus root is repaired there will be a prolonged period of restricted weight bearing and range of motion to protect the I went to Dr. Burnham for issues I was having with my shoulders. Ive dealt with other knee doctors in prior injuries, but Dr. Burham and his team clearly stood out. I was hit by a car on my bicycle near Horsetooth Reservoir in CO. Definition/Description. Full recovery usually takes 6 months but can take up to 1 year. I was referred to Dr. Burnham from my spine doc, Chambliss Harrod, MD and he turned out to be a way cool guy. We have published and validated our results in the peer-reviewed literature, which was at the time the largest series of meniscus root repairs reported. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. The most common root repair technique is called a transtibial technique. If not even worse. I could not bear weight on my right side though I tried repeatedly, but finally I went and got an MRI and one of the orthopedic surgeons that I worked with was shocked when he saw the MRI result. The average pain levels after a meniscus root repair fit between a basic knee arthroscopy (minimal pain) and an ACL reconstruction (more severe pain). Does a extruded medial meniscus towards the posterior root need surgery? His team is prompt, thorough, and fun - always smiles. A patient who has a Meniscus (cartilage) repair cannot twist, pivot, squat, deep knee bends, or engage in any impact activities for four months. He then drills a hole from the front of the tibia, into the root area and brings the sutures through the hole in order to tie them together and hold the tissue in place. Meniscal Ramp Lesions. Partial weightbearing status (<50%), unless otherwise ordered by MD. Definitely recommend. I was cleared to drive at my followup appointment 2 weeks after surgery, which was exactly what my surgeon had told me to expect. 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. I would recommend his services to anyone. Heres the third practical tip if youre if you dont know where to go Ive got some exercises that i put on videos here for free on YouTube its linked in the description below theres one video in particular that i want you to take a look at its called top five glute exercises for knee problems go check out that video start doing those exercises youve got to exercise the heck out of your glutes if you got a meniscus injury if youve had a meniscus surgery in the past you need to get your glutes worked out. The protocol is divided into phases. Unlike some meniscus tears which can be observed or treated conservatively, most meniscus root tears need surgery. You will feel tired for several days. He is on the cutting edge of research and techniques around surgery, he has a memorably reassuring bedside manner, and Im thankful he was in charge of my evalution and treatment. Tuesday: 8:00 am 5:00 pm For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). And if youve already had your meniscus surgery, then you know what to do so that youre not getting more swelling, pain and not losing motion than that knee and youre staying out of the surgeons office, so you dont have to go back again for another knee surgery.