Overview

What are Meniscus & Cartilage Injuries?

The menisci are C-shaped cartilage pads that absorb shock and stabilise the knee. Articular cartilage covers the bone surfaces and allows smooth joint movement. Tears to the meniscus or damage to the cartilage commonly occur with twisting injuries, impact or degenerative wear.

Dr. Krunal Donda at Shivaan Hospital specialises in arthroscopic meniscal repair, partial meniscectomy, cartilage preservation techniques (microfracture, osteochondral grafts, ACI/biologics) and tailored rehabilitation protocols.

Meniscus Repair
Preserving the meniscus wherever feasible to protect long-term joint health.
Partial Meniscectomy
Targeted removal of unstable fragments to relieve mechanical symptoms.
Cartilage Restoration
Microfracture, osteochondral grafting and cell-based repairs for focal cartilage defects.
Causes

How Do Meniscus & Cartilage Injuries Happen?

Common mechanisms include twisting on a planted foot, direct impact, degenerative wear, and combined injuries such as ACL tears with meniscal damage. Early diagnosis preserves tissue and reduces long-term degeneration.

  • ✓ Twisting/pivoting during sports
  • ✓ Direct collisions or falls
  • ✓ Degenerative wear with age
  • ✓ Combined ligament injuries (e.g., ACL)
Causes of meniscus tears
Symptoms

Signs to Watch For

Typical symptoms of meniscal or cartilage injury include pain, swelling, locking or catching, instability and reduced knee function.

  • ✓ Popping at time of injury or sudden pain
  • ✓ Swelling within 24–48 hours
  • ✓ Locking / catching or limited range
  • ✓ Persistent pain with weightbearing
Knee diagnosis
Diagnosis

How We Evaluate Your Knee

Assessment includes targeted clinical tests, X-rays & MRI to evaluate meniscal tears, cartilage defects and associated ligament injury. This allows a personalised treatment plan that balances tissue preservation with symptom relief.

  • ✓ Clinical exam (McMurray, joint line tests)
  • ✓ X-ray for alignment / arthritis assessment
  • ✓ MRI to map tears & cartilage defects
Treatment

Conservative & Surgical Options

Treatment is guided by symptoms, tear pattern, patient age and activity. Conservative care aims to reduce pain and restore function; surgery focuses on tissue preservation when necessary.

  • ✓ Conservative: RICE, bracing, physiotherapy
  • ✓ Injections: PRP therapy / biologics in select cases
  • ✓ Arthroscopic meniscal repair where tissue is repairable
  • ✓ Partial meniscectomy when repair is not feasible
  • ✓ Cartilage restoration: microfracture, grafting or cell-based therapy
Meniscus surgical options
Recovery

Rehabilitation & Timelines

Rehab emphasizes early motion, strength and neuromuscular control. Partial meniscectomy patients often return quickly; meniscal repair and cartilage procedures require longer protection and staged progression guided by our physiotherapy team.

  • ✓ Early: swelling control & range-of-motion
  • ✓ Mid: progressive strengthening & balance
  • ✓ Late: sport-specific conditioning and return-to-play testing
Why Shivaan Hospital

Experienced care — personalised plans

Dr. Krunal Donda combines arthroscopic expertise with tailored rehabilitation and objective outcome tracking. We prioritise tissue preservation and safe return to activity using evidence-based techniques.

Shivaan Hospital — modern orthopaedic care in Surat with patient-centred planning and follow-up.

Patient Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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