Knee arthroscopy for a torn meniscus is most often performed on an outpatient basis through two small incisions. The subsequent procedure depends primarily on one question: did the surgeon remove the damaged portion of the meniscus or simply stitch it back together? The instructions for weight-bearing, rehabilitation, and return to activity differ depending on the procedure. Here's what happens upon discharge, how to organize the first few days, and the signs that should prompt you to contact the medical team.
Quick answer
The Health Insurance reminds us that the principle is to preserve the meniscus as much as possible: partial meniscectomy only removes the damaged area, repair (suture) stitches a recent tear when the area is well irrigated.
After a partial meniscectomy, weight-bearing is generally resumed immediately, with early walking. After a suture, weight-bearing precautions and often a splint are prescribed, and the return to activity is more cautious.
| Partial Meniscectomy | Repair (suture) | |
|---|---|---|
| What is done | Removal of only the damaged part | The tear is stitched up. |
| Support | Usually taken back right away | Support precautions, often a splint |
| Re-education | Often working independently, following instructions | Structured, more progressive |
| Return to sport | According to the surgeon | Later, according to the surgeon |
I am not a doctor. This guide compiles information from the French National Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie), the French National Authority for Health (HAS), and the UK's National Health Service (NHS) to help you prepare your questions. The written instructions provided by your healthcare team always take precedence.
Knee arthroscopy: what was done to your meniscus
The meniscus is a small cushion of cartilage between the femur and the tibia. According to the French National Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie), surgery is not always necessary: after an injury due to trauma, it is considered based on the level of discomfort, the extent and location of the tear, its stability, and any potential damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A locked knee may necessitate surgery sooner.
Partial meniscectomy
The surgeon removes only the torn portion and leaves the rest. Complete removal of the meniscus is no longer performed, as it promotes osteoarthritis. The French National Authority for Health (HAS) emphasizes that a meniscus tear does not necessarily mean its removal, and that both treatment and repair should always be considered.
Meniscal repair, or suturing
The HAS (French National Authority for Health) specifies that this procedure is only possible for a tear located in the peripheral part of the meniscus, which is well-vascularized and in healthy tissue. The French National Health Insurance adds that in the long term, a meniscectomy, even a partial one, is more often followed by osteoarthritis than a repair. Conversely, recovery from a meniscectomy is longer and requires more close monitoring.
Your surgical report states which of the two procedures was performed. This report will guide all subsequent instructions: do not adapt the treatment plan of a relative who underwent surgery in a different way.
The day of the operation and the discharge
The procedure involves two small incisions, performed under regional or general anesthesia, after a mandatory anesthesia consultation . Most often, the operation is done on an outpatient basis: you go home accompanied by a relative or friend. The NHS emphasizes: after general anesthesia, you must not drive; someone must pick you up. See also the role of the caregiver on the first night.
Before leaving, check that you have: your prescription for pain medication, written support instructions, your physiotherapy prescription if applicable, your anticoagulant prescription if prescribed by the team, and the phone number to call. The NHS states that a written recovery plan, outlining the steps to resume your activity, is normally provided.
The first few days at home
Pain, stiffness and swelling
The knee is usually painful and stiff at first, the NHS reminds us. Take the prescribed painkillers as directed. For swelling, the National Health Service and the NHS recommend applying cold, always wrapped in a cloth and never directly to the skin, and elevating your leg when sitting or lying down. Wear the compression stocking if you have been given one.
Dressing and small incisions
The incisions are closed with adhesive strips or stitches, and a dressing is applied. Keep it as dry as possible: the team will tell you when to remove it and when you can shower. Our post-operative dressing guide details the differences between glue, sutures, and strips.
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Walking, bending the knee, and rehabilitation
After a partial meniscectomy, the French National Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie) advises walking early, using the knee without bending it too much, and elevating the leg as often as possible throughout the day. After suturing, weight-bearing is limited, and a brace is often prescribed to protect the healing process: follow your surgeon's weight-bearing instructions to the letter, including the use of crutches.
Rehabilitation begins immediately after the procedure. Most often, following arthroscopy, it involves self-rehabilitation with exercises provided by the surgeon; physical therapy is sometimes prescribed. Its goal is to regain normal mobility, muscle strength, and a knee that functions well in everyday life.
- Avoid squatting, kneeling, jumping, and pivoting on the operated leg until the team gives you permission.
- After a suture, these precautions last longer: ask the surgeon for the date of each step.
- If you have been prescribed an anticoagulant, take it regularly and mention it before any dental or medical treatment.
Sleeping after knee arthroscopy
No institutional source prescribes a single position. The recurring guidelines are to keep the leg elevated when resting and to wear the brace if it is required at night. Ask the team where to place the cushion, under the calf or under the knee, and whether the knee should remain straight at night. Our guidelines for better sleep after surgery also apply.
Driving, work and sport
The NHS advises against driving until you are able to brake in an emergency without pain. The decision depends on the operated leg, the brace, the type of gearbox, and any medication: see Driving after surgery , and seek the surgeon's approval.
The duration of sick leave varies depending on the procedure (meniscectomy or repair), the meniscus operated on, and your occupation. The French National Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie) publishes indicative reference durations for doctors, which should be adapted to each patient. For information on your rights, see sick leave after surgery . Resuming sports activities depends on the surgeon's advice and is generally delayed after a repair than after a partial meniscectomy.
Signs that should prompt the team to be called
Complications are rare, according to the NHS. The National Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie) asks that you report any symptoms immediately.
- a fever, or chills;
- Pain that increases at rest, with heat and redness of the knee, which may indicate an infection: see surgical scar infection ;
- a knee that remains very swollen, or a foul-smelling discharge from an incision;
- Pain and swelling in the calf, which raise concerns about phlebitis: see the symptoms of phlebitis ;
- tingling or numbness around the knee.
Emergency: sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or fainting after the operation: immediately call 15 (SAMU) in France, or 112 from any European country. Do not drive yourself.
F.A.Q
What if the cruciate ligament was also operated on?
When a meniscus repair accompanies anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, the ligament's recovery program sets the pace. See our guide to recovery after cruciate ligament surgery.
My knee swells even more when I walk more: is that normal?
Swelling that increases after exertion and decreases with rest may accompany the return to activity. If it persists, is accompanied by heat, redness, or fever, or if the knee locks, call the team.
Do I absolutely need a physiotherapist?
Not always. After a partial meniscectomy, self-rehabilitation guided by the surgeon is the most common approach. After a suture, physiotherapy is more frequently prescribed. The French National Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie) specifies that the Prado service can also support the return home.
Institutional sources
- Health Insurance, Treatment of meniscal lesions of the knee (August 28, 2026), accessed on October 26, 2026.
- Health insurance, Damaged knee meniscus: what next? (August 28, 2026), accessed on October 26, 2026.
- French National Authority for Health, Therapeutic management of meniscal lesions and isolated lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in adults, summary (June 2008), accessed on October 26, 2026.
- Health insurance, sick leave: meniscal tears, surgical treatment (December 2012), accessed on October 26, 2026.
- NHS, Arthroscopy (review of September 7, 2026), accessed on October 26, 2026.
Editorial note: This article was written on October 26, 2026, using institutional sources consulted on that date. It provides information without offering a diagnosis or replacing the advice of your healthcare team. Internal reference: arthroscopy-knee-meniscus-20261027.
