Meniscal Repair — Meniscus Repair (Non-Radial Tears)

UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Sports Medicine · Thomas Kremen MD

Weight-Bearing

NWB x 4 wks; WBAT with 2 crutches wks 4-8; D/C crutches at 8 wks when criteria met (no SLR lag, full extension, 90° flex, non-antalgic gait)

Key Restrictions

Brace locked in extension for gait/sleeping x 4 wks (unlocked 4-8 wks for controlled gait training); D/C brace at 8 wks; driving at 4 wks; aquatic therapy at 4 wks; heel slides 0-90°; knee extensions 50-90° Phase II; hamstring curls 0-60° Phase III; swimming no breaststroke; elliptical at 8 wks; RTS ~4-6 months

Timeline & Phases

Phase I (0-8 wks): NWB x 4 wks then WBAT with 2 crutches, brace locked 0-4 wks (unlocked 4-8 wks), heel slides 0-90°, quad sets/SLR/ankle pump/patellar mobs, aquatic therapy at 4 wks | Phase II (8 wks - 3 months): D/C brace and crutches at 8 wks when criteria met, wall slides 0-45° → mini-squats, 4-way hip, stationary bike, leg press 0-60°, step-ups 2→8", knee extensions 50-90°, toe raises, balance, elliptical at 8 wks | Phase III (3-4 months): CKC progression, CKC TKE, hamstring curls 0-60°, swimming no breaststroke, pool jogging with wet vest, Stairmaster | Phase IV (4-6+ months): jog/run progression, cutting/carioca/figure 8, sport-specific drills, work hardening; RTS ~4-6 months

Notes

Specifically for non-radial meniscus tears; compare to 307011 (radial/root tear) which is more conservative (NWB x 6 wks, aquatic at 6 wks, driving at 6 wks); PT 2/wk Phase I, 1-2/wk Phase II, 1/wk Phase III; knee extensions 50-90° permitted in Phase II; elliptical at 8 wks; RTS typically 4-6 months with physician clearance; Kremen MD UCLA PatientPop practice site

Surgeon / Author

Thomas Kremen MD