Modern Medicine Making Sports Injuries Treatment Easier With Faster Recovery

For joint stability, load transfer, and stress absorption, the meniscus—a crescent-shaped portion of cartilage in the knee—is essential. Meniscus injuries occur often, particularly in sports, and the course of therapy for these injuries has evolved dramatically over time. Historically, the standard of care was removing the meniscus completely, or a complete meniscectomy. But the perspective has shifted in favour of meniscal preservation as a result of technical breakthroughs.

Complete meniscus removal was once thought to be an easy method of reducing pain and enhancing knee function. Long-term outcomes have not been as favourable, despite the fact that this technique typically resulted in better short-term results and fast alleviation. Over time, a total meniscectomy might result in ailments like:

1. Osteoarthritis: The meniscus is essential for maintaining balance in the distribution of stress across the knee joint; its absence results in increased friction on the articular cartilage. This elevated stress causes cartilage to deteriorate more quickly over time, hastening the onset of osteoarthritis.

2. Joint Instability: The meniscus plays the role of supplementary stabilizer, which is one of its main functions in maintaining joint stability. Eliminating it may result in increased instability and laxity, which raises the possibility of further knee injuries.

3. Decreased Functionality: Patients who have a total meniscectomy frequently complain of having less knee function overall, including less strength and endurance during physical activity.

The adverse consequences associated with total meniscectomy have boosted medical advancements in the direction of meniscus preservation methods. A variety of techniques, such as meniscal replacement, partial meniscectomy, and meniscal repair, fall under the category of meniscal preservation. These techniques aim to maintain the biomechanical characteristics of the tissue by keeping as much of the original meniscal tissue as is practical. Arthroscopy meniscal repair, a minimally invasive surgical technique, is one of the state-of-the-art methods that aims to repair torn knee cartilage and restore joint stability and function. This method minimises tissue damage and speeds up healing by using tiny incisions and an arthroscope to direct the repair process. Better patient outcomes are achieved by using a new all-inside meniscal repair device with flexible needles that deploy PEEK implants to easily repair even the most difficult injuries. 

High-performance polymer polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is being used more often in meniscal repair because of its remarkable radiolucency, durability, and biocompatibility. Significant advantages of PEEK implants include a lower chance of immunological rejection, better mechanical qualities, and long-term stability. These benefits lead to better surgical results, quicker recovery, and higher levels of patient satisfaction overall.

In orthopedic medicine, the transition from meniscal excision to preservation is a hopeful development. This method considers the long-term functionality and health of the knee joint in addition to the immediate symptoms of meniscal injury.

Dr. IPS Oberoi

Guest Author Chairperson - Orthopaedics Program & Chief – Robotic Joint Replacement & Arthroscopy Surgery, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram