knee surgery Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Knee Arthroscopic Surgery for Meniscus Tears

The AHA! Team — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:36:09 +0000

Georgia M. Beasley, MD, MHSc, via Duke Health – The knee is one of the most commonly injured parts of the body, and meniscus tears are often the cause of knee pain and knee injury. The meniscus is the tough, rubbery cartilage that absorbs shock between the shin bone and thigh bone and distributes weight across the knee joint. When this cartilage tears, it can cause pain and instability in the knee joint. Meniscus tears can result from a twisting injury in sporting activities, such as football or soccer, or even something as simple as turning to put the dishes away. Symptoms of Meniscus Tears People of all ages can suffer from meniscus injuries, but each age has different types of tears and different ways to treat the tears. Almost all tears have similar symptoms, including: Pain Swelling Tenderness Giving way Mechanical symptoms, such as locking, popping, and catching Diagnosing a Meniscus Tear When you experience these symptoms, it is important to see an orthopaedic surgeon so your knee can be examined and an accurate diagnosis made. Occasionally, the diagnosis is obvious based upon a description of the injury and an examination of the patient. However, X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are frequently used to help identify any other associated injuries. Most common findings The most common findings on exam include tenderness over the joint line where the meniscus is torn, swelling, and sometimes loss of motion. The most important to report is whether you have mechanical symptoms such as episodes of feeling like your knee is caught or stuck. Once the diagnosis of a meniscus tear is made, you should discuss your treatment plan with your orthopaedic surgeon. For most people who have a symptomatic meniscus tear with mechanical symptoms, arthroscopic surgery is selected to remove or repair the torn tissue. However, if you have arthritis, you may benefit from injection and physical therapy without surgery. Arthroscopy has revolutionized how knee surgery is performed. In the past, a torn meniscus required a three- to four-inch incision and an overnight stay (or two) in the hospital. Now, the meniscus tear can be repaired with the arthroscope through two tiny (less than a half-inch) incisions. The surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis in less than an hour. Typically, the surgery can be performed under regional anesthesia with sedation, so there’s minimal anesthesia risk. Occasionally, small stitches can be placed into the torn meniscus to sew it back together; this technique can successfully treat large tears in younger people. If the tear is small, it may be removed. Quick Recovery Time Recovery from arthroscopic meniscus tear surgery is relatively quick, and most people can resume normal activities within a few weeks depending on the size of the tear and the repair involved. The pain relief is dramatic, and the postoperative incision pain is quite minimal. Physical therapy is often necessary in the recovery process. As with any surgery, there are risks, including the risk of infection or blood clots. Additionally, there are risks associated with anesthesia used during the surgical procedure. While meniscus tears are common, painful, and activity-limiting, these injuries can be quickly, easily, and successfully identified and treated. To read the original article click here.

The post Knee Arthroscopic Surgery for Meniscus Tears appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

New Biodegradable Adhesive Offers Safer Alternative for Knee Meniscus Repair

The AHA! Team — Wed, 21 May 2025 05:40:28 +0000

Taipei Medical University via News-Medical – Prof. Jia-Lin Wu’s research team from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, has developed an advanced biodegradable tissue adhesive to repair torn knee menisci. This innovative adhesive offers a safer and more effective alternative to traditional sutures, paving the way for improved recovery and reduced surgical complications for millions of patients. Natural polymers improve meniscus repair with biodegradable adhesive Meniscus tears, a common knee injury for athletes and older adults, are often treated with sutures that can damage healthy tissue and lead to poor healing. The newly developed adhesive, called ChitHCl-DDA, is made from natural polymers (chitosan and dextran) and demonstrates high adhesive strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, making it ideal for meniscus repair. This advancement can improve outcomes for athletes, older adults, and others who face this common injury, as well as reduce the burden on healthcare systems. ChitHCl-DDA: Strong, biocompatible, and designed for seamless healing The ChitHCl-DDA adhesive exhibits strong adhesion and biocompatibility, forming a durable bond with meniscus tissue even in wet environments while supporting natural healing without harmful side effects. It promotes tissue regeneration by encouraging cell migration and collagen formation, which is essential for effective recovery. Designed for controlled degradation, the adhesive provides mechanical support during healing and gradually disappears as the tissue regenerates. Laboratory and animal studies demonstrated its effectiveness, showing significant improvements in tissue healing, reduced extrusion, and enhanced regeneration compared to untreated controls. “Our innovative ChitHCl-DDA adhesive not only bonds strongly in challenging wet conditions but also actively promotes natural tissue regeneration—paving the way for a less invasive and more efficient approach to meniscus repair,” said Prof. Wu. Rigorous testing behind ChitHCl-DDA’s success The research team synthesized the adhesive using chitosan hydrochloride and oxidized dextran, forming a gel-like material that bonds through a chemical reaction. This adhesive sets quickly (2-5 minutes), ensuring it remains in place during surgery. It was tested rigorously for strength, swelling, and biocompatibility, using advanced techniques like Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and rheological analysis. The adhesive was also tested successfully on porcine and rabbit models to confirm its real-world applicability. This new adhesive could reduce reliance on sutures and associated complications, providing a less invasive and more effective solution for meniscus repair. Beyond orthopedics, the technology may inspire further applications in tissue repair and regenerative medicine, impacting various medical fields. Source: Taipei Medical University Journal reference: Wong, P.-C., et al. (2024). Injectable ChitHCl-DDA tissue adhesive with high adhesive strength and biocompatibility for torn meniscus repair and regeneration. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132409. To read the original article click here.

The post New Biodegradable Adhesive Offers Safer Alternative for Knee Meniscus Repair appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Virtual Physical Therapy After Knee Replacement Brings Similar Outcomes, Lower Costs

AHA Publisher — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 05:28:55 +0000

Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins via Newswise – A virtual system for in-home physical therapy (PT) provides good outcomes for patients undergoing rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) – with lower costs than traditional in-person PT, reports a study in the January 15, 2020 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio in partnership with Wolters Kluwer. Newswise — January 16, 2020 – “Relative to traditional home or clinic PT, virtual PT with telerehabilitation for skilled clinical oversight significantly lowered three-month health-care costs after TKA while providing similar effectiveness,” according to the clinical trial report by Janet Prvu Bettger, ScD, of Duke University, Durham, N.C., and colleagues. Virtual PT After TKA Is Safe and Effective, Randomized Trial Reports The study included 306 patients with an average age of 65 years undergoing a knee replacement procedure. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo traditional PT, either at home or at clinic visits, or virtual PT with use of a virtual telehealth system. The FDA-cleared Virtual Exercise Rehabilitation Assistant (VERA) was designed to provide remote rehabilitation services. The cloud-based system features a digitally simulated coach to demonstrate and guide activity, including visual and audio instructions. The system also uses 3D tracking technology to assess the patient’s pose and movement, enabling immediate feedback on exercise quality. The VERA system provides a virtual video connection for weekly live telehealth visits with a remote physical therapist, who monitors the patient’s progress and reports back to the surgeon before follow-up clinic visits. Patients were able to receive in-person PT, if deemed necessary. The study compared the costs and effectiveness of rehabilitation following TKA for the virtual and traditional PT groups. In the 12 weeks after TKA, median total costs were $1,050 for patients assigned to the virtual PT system, compared with $2,805 with traditional PT. Mean costs were $2,745 lower in the virtual PT group. Patients using the VERA system participated in PT an average of 5.9 days per week, compared with 3.3 days in the traditional PT group. Eighty-eight percent of patients in the virtual PT group said they completed all assigned exercises, compared with 65 percent with traditional PT. After 12 weeks of rehabilitation, knee function, walking speed, and other functional outcomes were similar with virtual and traditional PT. Patients in the virtual PT group reported less difficulty with knee function during sports and recreational activities. There was no difference in physician, urgent care, and emergency room visits, but patients in the virtual PT group had fewer hospital readmissions. Safety outcomes were also similar between groups. The risk of falls was somewhat higher for patients assigned to virtual PT. Postoperative PT is important for helping patients to regain physical function following TKA. But PT care can be challenging to access, with barriers including cost and a shortage of physical therapists. Virtual or telerehabilitation programs such as VERA might help to increase home-based access to PT for patients undergoing TKA. The new study finds substantially lower costs in the three months after TKA for patients assigned to virtual PT, compared with traditional PT. Effectiveness and safety are similar between groups. Some outcomes might be even better with virtual PT (ie, knee function during sports/activities and rehospitalization risk), although the risk of falls may be higher. “These findings have important implications for patients, health systems, and payers and suggest that virtual PT with a telehealth therapist for remote clinical monitoring and guidance should be considered for patients after TKA,” Dr. Bettger and colleagues conclude. Although further study to guide implementation and uptake is needed, the authors believe that virtual PT systems have the potential to improve access while lowering costs of PT for patients undergoing TKA. To read the original article click here.

The post Virtual Physical Therapy After Knee Replacement Brings Similar Outcomes, Lower Costs appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.