Repair of "large" Bucket Handle tear in Medial Meniscus?

by rhys
(phx, az)

I saw my doctor and had an MRI done last week. He called me and said I had a "large" (and he emphasized large) bucket handle tear of my medial meniscus. The injury occurred 4 weeks ago. At first i wasn't able to straighten my knee because the torn cartilage had folded up and into my knee joint. I can move it pretty freely now though.

From what i've read i know that they usually only repair tears in the red vascular zone. I believe my is torn beyond this point. I am guessing that if they chose to excise it they would be removing nearly half of my meniscus.

Since the tear is so large will they opt for the repair surgery? I'm 22 yrs old and very active and athletic. I don't want arthritis in my twenties!

Comments for
Repair of "large" Bucket Handle tear in Medial Meniscus?

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 27, 2008
Rating

bucket handle tear
by: Bart - SII

Bucket handle tears are usually not repaired - they are longitudinal tears that have mobilized into the knee joint, and are usually located outside of the vascular red-red zone.

A meniscectomy is the likely surgery of choice for you, and although it will remove part of the meniscus, it will help reduce continued problems and it will prevent further tearing of the meniscus.

You will likely develop arthritis, but probably not in the near future - a knee surgery early in life means that you will have problems arthritic problems in your 50's or 60's instead of your 70's or 80's. A lot of it also depends on how active you are and how much wear and tear you put on your knees.

Bart

May 28, 2009
Rating

I know what your going through
by: Anonymous

I had the same bucket handle tear in my medial meniscus and a ruptured ACL back in mid 2006 (16 years old). I had a meniscectomy (they removed 65%) along with an ACL reconstruction. I'm still active...I notice no difference at all. I'm still very active and am even joining the Defence Force shortly. As the other person said: although we will get early onset arthritus it isn't something that's going to appear in the next 5- 10 years closer to 20 in fact. Just start taking glucosamine. And stay cool.

Jul 17, 2009
Rating

Good News for us
by:

My 17 yo son had surgery Thursday for a bucket handle tear and they ended up removing 50% of his meniscus. We are very concerned about what this means for him later on. He's both a football and baseball player. This gives me hope that he can play ball and still walk when he's 30.

Jul 27, 2010
Rating

There is hope
by: Anonymous

I had medial meniscus tears and surgery on both knees in my teens. I learned to walk straight and not squat down on my heels. I will be seventy this fall and I am currently running daily and doing 5k's. Both hips have been resurfaced but my knees have no pain or other problem. Sure like to thank the surgeon from way back when.
Good luck with your repairs - hope they go as well as mine did.

Dec 03, 2010
Rating

You are not alone
by: Bucket-Handle

As you can see, many people have had this same injury. I sympathize with you, as I am currently experiencing the condition;; and, I will be having surgery in one week. Some of the things that have been said in response to your question are correct; and, others are not. This is what I have learned since sustaining this injury: It is far easier to harm yourself doing the simplest of things without prior preparation (i.e. stretching, warming up). It is a very long recovery time, regardless of your age (when it heals on the outside, it is NOT healed on the inside...when you think you are "all better" your AREN'T. Lastly, the advances that have been made in orthopaedics are incredible. My medial meniscus will be removed and replaced with that of a cadaver; and, I will be able to complete my military career. So, yes, it hurts; however, you are not doomed: take care of yourself and take it easy in your recovery (don't push it, one day at a time). Good luck :-)

Dec 23, 2010
Rating

My son is having surgery next week
by: Anonymous

My son (14yrs old) had an acl hamstring graft surgery Aug 2009 and has reinjured the same knee causing a bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus. The orthopaedic surgeon says it is 90% torn and he will need a meniscectomy to completely remove the meniscus as well as a 2nd acl graft (cadaver this time) to help support the existing hamstring graft he did in 2009 which is pretty "beat up". Has anyone had this done? What was the outcome after the complete meniscus removal? Any pain during activity? My son is very active in sports: football, basketball, track and I worry about the risk of him reinjuring it once he begins playing again.

Feb 07, 2011
Rating

To the guy named bucket-handle
by: Pete

I currently have this injury as well. It happened to me at boot camp and was able to push through. My symptoms are my knee feels fine usually, but the torn area will catch and cause my knee to lock and I can not straighten it. It happens when I squat low or twist in certain ways. I have become a master at un-locking the knee once this has happened, but I know this is not a sensible solution. I have recently began feeling achy in my knee (the injury happened in October of 2009 and I have been dealing with it since mainly because I have been in training schools non-stop since it happened and did not want to get recycled.) Now I am facing a deployment and looking for a little more relief until I return and can have it fixed in the approriate way. After some research I have read a little bit about prolotherapy. It claims to help speed up the recovery of the meniscus instead of removing it, thus helping prevent arthritis. I'm not sure if I am going to give this a try or not, surgery just isn't an option for me right now.

Sep 22, 2011
Rating

i have a tear
by: Anonymous

I am 15 years old and attend high school. I recently have hurt my knee. I went to the doctor today and they said i have a bucket handle tear. They are going to have surgery on it tomorrow. It has been a week prior to injury...please advise on the situation =[

Sep 23, 2011
Rating

To the 15 yr old
by: Anonymous

Hey I just found out today I'm having the surgery for the same thing u r having today. The Dr. Said he could just take it out or repair it and my ACL at the same time. Is that what u had done today. If so how did it go?

Oct 21, 2011
Rating

mom of 13 year old who had a meniscectomy
by:

My 13 year old so had a meniscectomy (removal) of his meniscus. He had a bucket handle tear that was not repairable. Does anyone have info on the transplant? My son is an athlete and before this injury was on the fields every day. The orthoipaedic said he needs a meniscus transplant due to his activities if he doesn't get it he will have arthritis by the time he is 20. His surgeon does not do transplants and I have contacted offices of Doctors who do but they wont see my son for 6 months to a year. Help!

Oct 30, 2011
Rating

bucket handle tear
by: muhammad khalil

It seems to be a common problem i have buket handle tear & i m getting arthroscopy before eid ul azha.

Click here to add your own comments

Signup for your free copy of Flexibility Solutions!