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Is Skiing Safe When Diagnosed With Torn Meniscus?
Question: After an MRI I have been diagnosed with a poster medial meniscus "flap" tear involving approx. one-third of the menicscus. I am considering anthroscopic meniscectomy but have a 2 week snowski holiday booked next week and wonder if this would risk further damage or if wearing a knee brace and would eliminate risk of further tearing. I would hate to end up with having to have more serious/invasive surgery. What do you think about skiing am able to waterski with little discomfort. It is impact exercise and straightening and bending the affected leg/knee that cause inflammation and pain.
Brief Answer:
It is not advisable.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing healthcaremagic for posting your query.
I'm Dr. Sudhir Kumar.
I have gone through your question in detail and understand your concern. It is advisable to not ski as it may further increase the tear. If you want to ski then it should be done with a brace to prevent rotation at knee as rotation can further increase the tear.
However, further I want to say even if tear further increase then it is ultimately to be removed on arthroscopy so practically it is not causing any damage but discomfort. No other structures are likely to be damaged.
Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Wishing you a good health
Take care.
It is not advisable.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing healthcaremagic for posting your query.
I'm Dr. Sudhir Kumar.
I have gone through your question in detail and understand your concern. It is advisable to not ski as it may further increase the tear. If you want to ski then it should be done with a brace to prevent rotation at knee as rotation can further increase the tear.
However, further I want to say even if tear further increase then it is ultimately to be removed on arthroscopy so practically it is not causing any damage but discomfort. No other structures are likely to be damaged.
Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Wishing you a good health
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
If the tear should increase before the surgery date would this mean that a meniscectomy would not be possible and I would then have to undergo a full
medial meniscus repair?. Even if the latter is able to be done arthroscopically I
want to avoid that as I understand the recovery and rehabilitation takes a lot
longer than after a meniscectomy which I currently need? Also, with an injury like this i.e. a "flap tear" to one-third of the meniscus, - is there any chance of it repairing without surgery?
medial meniscus repair?. Even if the latter is able to be done arthroscopically I
want to avoid that as I understand the recovery and rehabilitation takes a lot
longer than after a meniscectomy which I currently need? Also, with an injury like this i.e. a "flap tear" to one-third of the meniscus, - is there any chance of it repairing without surgery?
Brief Answer:
It depends on plan of operation.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back
You will require meniscectomy even after its extension. Meniscectomy means removal of meniscus (it is not repair). In this procedure partial or complete removal of meniscus is done. In complete meniscectomy whole of meniscus is removed while in partial meniscectomy damaged part is removed and then balancing is done.
If already plan is complete meniscectomy then even after extension of tear complete meniscectomy (same surgery) will be done. If plan is partial meniscectomy then extension of tear may require more part of meniscus removal. Both surgery are done by arthroscopy. These type of tear are unlikely to be healed by non surgically or surgically because meniscus are relatively avascular, that is why these are removed (meniscectomy). You can discuss with your doctor about it.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho
Wishing you good health
Take care
It depends on plan of operation.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back
You will require meniscectomy even after its extension. Meniscectomy means removal of meniscus (it is not repair). In this procedure partial or complete removal of meniscus is done. In complete meniscectomy whole of meniscus is removed while in partial meniscectomy damaged part is removed and then balancing is done.
If already plan is complete meniscectomy then even after extension of tear complete meniscectomy (same surgery) will be done. If plan is partial meniscectomy then extension of tear may require more part of meniscus removal. Both surgery are done by arthroscopy. These type of tear are unlikely to be healed by non surgically or surgically because meniscus are relatively avascular, that is why these are removed (meniscectomy). You can discuss with your doctor about it.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho
Wishing you good health
Take care
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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