About this video
Last updated: 9 October 2026
The video says the meniscus weakens as we grow older, which can lead to degenerative tears: tears that develop with wear, often in complex patterns. These tears often extend into an area with minimal blood supply, so healing becomes difficult even with surgical repair.
Key points
- The video says that while the meniscus can technically be repaired, surgery does not restore its original strength.
- It says continuing high-impact activities after surgery carries a higher chance of re-tearing, and that modifying activities, including low-impact options, helps avoid overloading the repaired tissue.
- The video says surgery usually trims away unstable, torn fragments that are unlikely to heal, then repairs any stable sections to preserve as much of the meniscus as possible.
- It says recovery time varies for each individual, with gentle movement and physiotherapy guidance after surgery.
Questions this video answers
Why are degenerative meniscus tears hard to repair?
The video says the meniscus weakens with age, and these degenerative tears often have complex patterns that extend into an area with minimal blood supply. It says healing becomes difficult even with surgical repair, and that surgery does not restore the original strength.
What happens during surgery for a degenerative meniscus tear?
The video says surgery usually trims away unstable, torn fragments that are unlikely to heal. It then repairs any stable sections to preserve as much of the meniscus as possible. It adds that activities are modified afterwards to avoid overloading the repaired tissue.
