Total Meniscectomy

• Total meniscectomy is a surgical procedure which involves removal of the entire meniscus. Though not always possible to avoid a total meniscectomy if damage to the meniscus is severe, removal of the entire meniscus will result in ongoing degeneration of the articular cartilage leading to arthritic changes in the joint. If possible, avoid total meniscectomy.
  
  

Partial Meniscectomy

• Partial meniscectomy is the removal of the damaged area of the meniscus while leaving the remainder of the meniscus in place. This procedure is preferable to total meniscectomy as fewer arthritic changes occur and the joint retains more function.
  
  

Primary Repair

• Various techniques are used to repair a damaged meniscus. The likelihood that severe degenerative changes will occur within the joint is decreased if the meniscus can be salvaged. To that end, polymer implants which form a scaffold encouraging healing to occur, collagen sponges or gels containing growth factors designed to stimulate healing of damaged tissue, and the injection of stem cells derived from bone marrow harvested from the patient and used to help rebuild the damaged cartilage have all been used to repair the torn meniscus.
  
  

Meniscal Release

• Meniscal release is a controversial procedure which involves freeing the posterior part of the meniscus. The theory is that the release allows the meniscus to avoid being crushed and damaged by an unstable joint. Previously, meniscal release was commonly performed any time a cruciate injury was repaired. However, a 2008 study by Pozzi, et al, from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University, found that meniscal release does not prohibit degenerative changes leading to arthritis in the joint and is comparable in this respect to total meniscectomy. Therefore, many orthopedic surgeons no longer perform or recommend this procedure.
  
  

Nonsurgical Treatments

• In cases where surgery is not practical, particularly in smaller breed dogs, medications to relieve pain and reduce inflammation may be used to treat meniscal injuries. Options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), glucosamine and chondroitin. Medications to relieve pain are also used and include tramadol, buprenorphine and fentanyl.