The Truth About Meniscal Tears and Cartilage Wear

Many patients visit our Durban-based practice complaining of a sharp, localised pain, swelling, or a strange "locking" sensation when bending their knee. Very often, the root culprit is a meniscal tear or an isolated cartilage lesion. The meniscus acts as the ultimate rubber shock absorber inside your knee, protecting the hard cartilage that coats your thigh and shin bones.

A massive trending question among patients is: If I tear my meniscus, does it have to be removed? Historically, surgeons would simply remove the torn piece. However, modern orthopaedic trends favor meniscal preservation. Whenever possible especially in younger, active patients we aim to repair the meniscus using minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to preserve the knee’s natural shock absorption. Furthermore, for isolated cartilage damage, we utilize advanced microfracture techniques (drilling tiny holes to channel bone-marrow stem cells to the site) or cartilage transplantation. Catching these lesions early is the single best way to prevent the premature onset of severe knee arthritis.