Meniscus Repair — Isolated Meniscus Repair

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center · J. Baumfeld MD; M. Lemos MD; L. Scola DPT OCS OMT

Weight-Bearing

WBAT with crutches and brace locked at 0 deg (Phases I-II); FWB D/C crutches and brace Phase III

Key Restrictions

PROM 0-90 deg Phases I-II; no flex beyond 90 deg until Phase III; no loaded flex >45 deg x 4 wks; no loaded flex >90 deg until 8 wks; avoid pivoting and varus/valgus stress; posterior horn repair: no HS exercises x 6 wks; complex repairs: WB restrictions extend 6-8 wks; OKC quad focus to avoid meniscus loading

Timeline & Phases

5 phases: Phase I (1-4 wks), Phase II (4-6 wks), Phase III (6-12 wks), Phase IV (12-16 wks), Phase V (16+ wks)

Notes

EMS in Phase I; D/C criteria: non-antalgic gait, pain-free full ROM, no palpable edema, LE strength >=4/5, indep HEP; return to run progression: start 10 min 3x/wk, increase 1 min/session to max 30 min; speed/agility program for return to sport; swimming no frog kick; same authorship team as Lahey THA/TKA

Surgeon / Author

J. Baumfeld MD; M. Lemos MD; L. Scola DPT OCS OMT

Published

Approved December 2013; Reviewed February 2015