Knee Meniscus Surgery in Elizabethtown, KY
Meniscus Surgery for Elizabethtown Patients
The menisci are two C-shaped cushions of cartilage between the thigh bone and shin bone. A twist on a planted foot, a deep squat, or simply years of wear can tear one, causing pain along the joint line, swelling, catching or locking. At Aptiva Health’s Elizabethtown clinic, 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, meniscus tears are evaluated the same day, treated with therapy and injections when that is enough, and repaired or trimmed arthroscopically by Dr. J. Steve Smith, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, when it is not. Every visit except the operation itself takes place in Elizabethtown.
Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, for a same-day appointment at 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701.
Medically reviewed by J. Steve Smith, MD. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Schedule your appointment today!
Is Meniscus Surgery Right for You?
Not every meniscus tear needs an operation. The decision depends on the type of tear, your age and activity, and whether the knee also has arthritis.
Tears that usually heal or settle without surgery: small tears, degenerative tears in older knees, and tears in knees with significant arthritis, where trimming the meniscus does not help the underlying wear.
Tears that benefit from repair: longer tears near the outer rim, where the blood supply allows healing, especially in younger and active patients; bucket-handle tears that lock the knee; and tears found alongside an ACL injury.
Tears that are trimmed (partial meniscectomy): tears in the inner, bloodless zone that will not heal and keep catching, locking or causing pain despite therapy.
A locked knee that will not straighten is seen urgently.
What We Try First, in Elizabethtown
The non-surgical pathway is available at Westport Road:
Physical therapy with Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA, restoring motion and building quadriceps and hip strength to unload the joint line. Dovie works one on one with patients and has extensive experience with orthopedic injuries and conditions.
Activity modification for six to twelve weeks, avoiding deep squats, pivoting and kneeling
Anti-inflammatory medication and a corticosteroid injection for swelling and pain
Re-examination to confirm the mechanical symptoms have settled
Your First Visit at Westport Road
Where: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701.
When: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM; same-day appointments at 270-506-4888.
What happens: history, an exam that includes specific meniscus tests, and on-site X-rays to check alignment and look for arthritis.
Further imaging: MRI, when needed to confirm the tear and its pattern, is scheduled at Aptiva Health Imaging, 3615 Newburg Road in Louisville, and reviewed with you at your next Elizabethtown visit.
Bring: photo ID, insurance card, medication list, prior imaging, and claim details for work or auto injuries.
Surgery Day
Meniscus surgery is arthroscopic and outpatient. Through two or three small incisions, the surgeon examines the whole joint with a camera, then either stitches the torn meniscus back together or trims the damaged flap while keeping as much healthy tissue as possible. Partial meniscectomy takes about thirty minutes; repair takes somewhat longer. You go home the same day.
Surgery for Elizabethtown patients is performed in the Louisville metro area. The pre-operative visit is in Elizabethtown.
Recovery and Physical Therapy in Hardin County
After partial meniscectomy:
Days 0 to 7: walking the same day, crutches for comfort only; first follow-up at the Elizabethtown office.
Weeks 1 to 6: physical therapy at Westport Road; desk work within a few days, driving within one to two weeks, running and sport by four to eight weeks.
After meniscus repair:
Weeks 0 to 6: brace and crutches with limited knee bending to protect the stitches; therapy begins at Westport Road for motion and quadriceps activation.
Weeks 6 to 12: full weight bearing, strengthening and balance work.
Months 3 to 5: running, agility and return to sport after strength testing.
Risks and Realistic Expectations
Risks include infection, blood clots, stiffness, persistent swelling, failure of a repair to heal, and anesthesia complications. Trimming a meniscus relieves catching and locking reliably but removes some of the knee’s cushion, which is why repair is chosen whenever the tear can heal. In knees that already have arthritis, surgery addresses the tear, not the arthritis, and expectations are set accordingly.
Why Elizabethtown Patients Choose Aptiva Health for Meniscus Care
One building for the whole pathway. Exam, X-ray, injections, the pre-operative visit, every follow-up and physical therapy all happen at 529 Westport Road, so you are not driving to Louisville for routine care.
A surgeon who sees you in Elizabethtown. Dr. J. Steve Smith evaluates you here, operates in the Louisville metro area, and follows you here afterward.
Therapy and surgery on one chart. Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA follow Dr. Smith’s protocol directly, so your rehab matches your procedure.
Same-day appointments. Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Your Elizabethtown Clinic and Physical Therapy Team
Aptiva Health Orthopedics, Elizabethtown: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Phone 270-506-4888. Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. X-ray on site.
Physical therapy at Westport Road is provided by Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA. Dovie works one on one with patients and has extensive experience treating orthopedic injuries and conditions. Your surgeon and therapy team share one chart, so your rehab plan follows your surgical protocol.
MRI, when needed, is scheduled at Aptiva Health Imaging, 3615 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218, and reviewed with you at your next Elizabethtown visit.
When to See a Doctor
You should be evaluated by an orthopedic specialist if you have:
Pain along the inner or outer joint line of the knee, especially with squatting or twisting
Swelling that developed within a day or two of a twisting injury
Catching, clicking or a feeling that the knee might lock
A knee that is locked and will not fully straighten
Knee symptoms that have not settled after several weeks of rest
Same-day appointments are available at our Elizabethtown clinic Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call 270-506-4888.
Your Elizabethtown Knee Surgeon
J. Steve Smith, MD — Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Board-certified orthopedic surgeon; University of Kentucky College of Medicine, training at the University of Rochester, and a sports medicine fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, where he served on the medical staff for the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Anaheim Ducks. He has performed thousands of orthopedic procedures and treats the full range of knee conditions, including meniscus and ligament tears. Dr. Smith evaluates and treats knee patients at Aptiva Health’s Elizabethtown clinic on Westport Road, performs surgery in the Louisville metro area, and follows patients in Elizabethtown afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meniscus Surgery in Elizabethtown
Do I have to go to Louisville for meniscus surgery?
Your evaluation, X-rays, injections, pre-operative visit, follow-ups and physical therapy are all at our Elizabethtown clinic on Westport Road. The arthroscopy itself is performed in the Louisville metro area as an outpatient procedure, and you return to Elizabethtown for all follow-up care.
Repair or trim: which will I have?
It depends on where the tear is and its shape. Tears near the outer rim with a blood supply are repaired when possible; tears in the inner zone are trimmed. Dr. Smith makes the final decision during the arthroscopy based on what the tissue looks like, and discusses both possibilities with you beforehand.
How long until I can work?
After partial meniscectomy, desk work usually resumes within a week and physical work in three to six weeks. After repair, physical jobs generally wait three to four months.
Can I do physical therapy in Elizabethtown?
Yes. Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA provide the full post-operative program at the Westport Road clinic, one on one, following Dr. Smith’s protocol.
How soon can I be seen?
Same-day appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call 270-506-4888. A knee that is locked and will not straighten should be seen the same day.
Get Evaluated in Elizabethtown
Aptiva Health Orthopedics, Elizabethtown: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, or schedule online. Same-day appointments are available.
Insurance accepted: most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers’ compensation and auto injury coverage. We offer self-pay where there is no insurance, it is a non-covered service, and on a case-by-case basis. Call 270-506-4888 and our team will check your plan.