Knee Meniscus Surgery - Louisville, KY
Aptiva Health provides comprehensive meniscus care in Louisville — from the first evaluation through imaging, conservative treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation — anchored by board-certified orthopedic surgeons and a team of orthopedic advanced practice providers. We treat every type of meniscus tear, prioritizing conservative care first and offering minimally invasive arthroscopic meniscus repair and meniscectomy when surgery becomes the right answer. With on-site MRI, on-site physical therapy, and an in-house orthopedic and sports medicine team, the entire meniscus care pathway happens under one roof.
Medically reviewed by J. Steve Smith, MD. Last reviewed: May 2026.
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What is a Knee Meniscus?
A knee meniscus (plural: menisci) is a C-shaped piece of tough, rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia).
Each of your knees has two menisci:
Medial Meniscus: Located on the inner side of the knee.
Lateral Meniscus: Located on the outer side of the knee.
Think of them as the knee's built-in cushions and stabilizers.
What Does the Meniscus Do?
The meniscus plays a few critical roles in keeping your knees happy and functioning smoothly:
Shock Absorption: Every time you walk, run, or jump, the menisci absorb the impact, protecting the bones from grinding against each other.
Weight Distribution: They spread the weight of your body evenly across the knee joint so one specific area doesn't take all the heat.
Joint Stability: They act like wedges to help the rounded end of the thighbone fit snugly into the flat top of the shinbone.
Lubrication: They help circulate synovial fluid (the joint’s natural lubricant) to keep the joint moving smoothly.
The "Red Zone" vs. "White Zone"
Understanding the anatomy of a meniscus is incredibly important when it comes to healing, because it has a very unique blood supply:
What Is a Meniscus Tear?
Each knee has two menisci — C-shaped wedges of tough cartilage that sit between the thighbone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia), one on the inner side of the knee and one on the outer side. They act as shock absorbers, spreading load across the joint and protecting the smooth cartilage that caps the ends of the bones.
A meniscus tear is a tear in one of these cartilage wedges. It can happen suddenly — a twisting injury with the foot planted — or gradually, as the meniscus weakens and frays with age.
Whether a tear can heal depends heavily on where it is. The outer rim of the meniscus has a good blood supply and is sometimes called the "red zone"; tears there have the potential to heal or be repaired. The inner two-thirds has little or no blood supply — the "white zone" — and tears there generally do not heal on their own. Blood supply to the meniscus also decreases with age, which is why tear patterns and treatment differ between a young athlete and an older adult.
Types of Meniscus Tears
Meniscus tears are classified by their shape and pattern, which guides whether the tear can be repaired, trimmed, or managed without surgery:
Radial tear — a tear running from the inner edge outward. Location determines whether repair is possible.
Horizontal tear — a tear that splits the meniscus into top and bottom layers.
Longitudinal (vertical) tear — a tear running along the length of the meniscus; often repairable when it is in the outer, vascular zone.
Bucket-handle tear — a large longitudinal tear in which a segment of meniscus displaces into the joint and can block the knee from straightening. These often need prompt surgery.
Flap tear — a torn piece of meniscus that catches in the joint and causes locking or catching.
Complex tear — a tear with multiple patterns at once; usually not repairable, often treated by trimming the damaged tissue.
Degenerative tear — age-related fraying and tearing of a weakened meniscus, common after 40 and frequently managed without surgery.
Intrasubstance / incomplete tear — a tear contained within the meniscus that does not reach the surface; a common MRI finding that often does not require surgery.
Symptoms of a Meniscus Tear
A meniscus tear is likely if you have experienced some combination of the following:
Pain along the joint line — tenderness on the inner or outer side of the knee, often worse with twisting or squatting.
Swelling — gradual swelling over 24 to 48 hours rather than immediately.
Locking or catching — the knee getting stuck, clicking, or failing to fully straighten.
A feeling that the knee "gives way" — buckling or instability with walking, stairs, or pivots.
Stiffness and reduced range of motion — difficulty fully bending or straightening the knee.
A pop at the moment of injury — common with a sudden twisting meniscus tear.
A locked knee — one that physically cannot straighten after an injury — should be evaluated promptly.
How a Meniscus Tear Happens
Meniscus tears fall into two broad categories:
Acute (traumatic) tears happen during a specific movement, most often a twist or pivot with the foot planted, a deep squat, or a sudden change in direction. They are common in basketball, soccer, football, and other cutting sports, and frequently occur alongside ligament injuries — an ACL tear and a meniscus tear often happen together.
Degenerative tears develop gradually as the meniscus weakens with age. In an older adult, a meniscus can tear during an ordinary movement — standing up from a squat, stepping awkwardly — without any dramatic injury. These tears are very common and frequently respond well to conservative care.
How a Meniscus Tear Is Diagnosed
At Aptiva Health, diagnosing a meniscus tear usually takes a single visit:
History. Your provider asks how the knee was injured, where it hurts, whether it locks or catches, and how the symptoms have behaved since.
Physical examination. Joint-line tenderness and meniscus-specific maneuvers such as the McMurray test help identify a meniscus tear and distinguish it from ligament or cartilage problems.
Imaging. An MRI confirms the tear, shows its type and location, and identifies associated injuries to the ligaments or cartilage. Aptiva Health operates its own MRI imaging centers, so most patients can get same-week MRI scheduling without the multi-week wait that hospital-based imaging typically requires.
Treatment plan. After the exam and imaging, your provider walks you through the diagnosis, the surgical and non-surgical options, and the recovery timeline. You leave with a written plan.
Treatment for a Meniscus Tear
The right treatment depends on the tear's type, size, and location, the patient's age and activity level, and whether the knee is locking or unstable.
Non-surgical treatment
Many meniscus tears — particularly degenerative tears and small tears without mechanical symptoms — are managed without surgery. Conservative care includes physical therapy to rebuild strength and motion, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, bracing, and targeted knee injections when appropriate. Many patients improve and never need an operation.
Surgical treatment
When a tear locks or catches the knee, is large or displaced, or has not improved with conservative care, arthroscopic surgery is the next step. Meniscus surgery is minimally invasive — the surgeon works through small incisions using a tiny camera and instruments:
Meniscus repair — the torn cartilage is stitched back together so it can heal. Repair preserves the meniscus and is preferred whenever the tear's location and blood supply allow, because keeping the meniscus protects the knee against future arthritis.
Partial meniscectomy — only the damaged portion of the meniscus is trimmed away, preserving as much healthy cartilage as possible. This is used when the tear pattern cannot be repaired.
Total meniscectomy — removal of the entire meniscus, used rarely and only when no other option exists.
Meniscal transplant — for select younger patients who have lost a meniscus to prior surgery and developed pain, a donor meniscus can be transplanted to cushion the joint.
Learn more about meniscus surgery procedures →
Meniscus repair vs. meniscectomy
The single most important surgical decision is whether the tear can be repaired or must be trimmed. Repair keeps the meniscus intact and gives the best long-term joint protection, but it has a longer recovery because the cartilage has to heal. Meniscectomy has a faster recovery but removes tissue. Aptiva's sports orthopedic surgeons repair the meniscus whenever the tear pattern allows it, and reserve trimming for tears that genuinely cannot be repaired.
Recovery after meniscus surgery
After a partial meniscectomy, most patients return to non-strenuous activity within two to four weeks. After a meniscus repair, recovery is longer — often three to six months — with restricted weight-bearing and motion early on while the repair heals. Aptiva Health coordinates post-operative physical therapy in-house, which keeps rehabilitation on schedule.
Why Patients Choose Aptiva Health for Meniscus Care in Louisville
One knee team, one care pathway. From the initial evaluation through MRI, conservative care, surgery, and post-operative rehab, the patient stays inside one organization. The surgeon, the orthopedic PA and APRN, the physical therapist, and the imaging center all share the same chart and the same plan — no chasing referrals across four separate practices.
Conservative care first, surgery when it's right. Most meniscus tears do not require surgery. Our knee team starts every patient with the least-invasive treatment likely to work and recommends surgery only when symptoms and imaging both indicate it.
Same-week knee evaluations. Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week orthopedic appointments — patients do not wait months for a first visit. Acute knee injuries can be seen right away through our Immediate Injury Care walk-in clinic.
On-site imaging and therapy across Louisville. With on-site MRI imaging and in-house orthopedic, sports medicine, and physical therapy services, the scan, the diagnosis, the surgery, and the rehab all happen close to home.
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When to See a Doctor
You should be evaluated by an orthopedic specialist if you experience:
A knee that locks, catches, or cannot fully straighten
Knee pain along the joint line that has not improved after two to four weeks
Swelling that develops after an injury or recurs without a clear cause
A knee that gives way or feels unstable
A twisting knee injury from sports, a fall, or a work or auto accident
Get to an emergency room or urgent care immediately if you have an obvious knee deformity after an injury, cannot bear any weight on the leg, or have a knee that is hot, red, and severely swollen with fever.
For non-emergency knee evaluation, Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week appointments.
Meet the Louisville Knee Team
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.
Michael Gilbert, PA-C — Orthopedic Physician Assistant Orthopedic physician assistant for 30 years. For knee patients, Michael provides same-week new-patient evaluations, conservative-care coordination, knee injections, and post-operative follow-up.
Becky Kostyo, APRN — Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Advanced practice registered nurse who works directly with the Aptiva Health knee team to evaluate, diagnose, and manage knee conditions, including conservative care, knee injections, and pre- and post-operative coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meniscus Surgery in Louisville
Do I need surgery for a meniscus tear?
Not always. Many meniscus tears — particularly degenerative tears and small tears without mechanical symptoms — improve with conservative care: physical therapy, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, and targeted injections. Surgery is recommended when the knee locks or catches, when a tear is large or displaced, or when conservative care has not relieved symptoms. Your Aptiva Health surgeon reviews your exam and MRI to recommend the right path.
What is the difference between meniscus repair and meniscectomy?
A meniscus repair stitches the torn cartilage back together so it can heal, preserving the meniscus. It is preferred whenever the tear's location and blood supply allow, because keeping the meniscus protects the knee from future arthritis. A partial meniscectomy trims away only the damaged portion of the meniscus when the tear cannot be repaired. Repair has a longer recovery because the tissue must heal; meniscectomy has a faster recovery. Your surgeon recommends the approach based on the tear pattern and location.
How long is recovery after meniscus surgery?
Recovery depends on the procedure. After a partial meniscectomy, most patients return to non-strenuous activity within two to four weeks. After a meniscus repair, recovery is longer — often three to six months — because the repaired cartilage must heal, and weight-bearing and motion are restricted early on. Aptiva Health coordinates post-operative physical therapy in-house, which keeps rehab on schedule.
Can a meniscus tear heal without surgery?
Some can. The outer rim of the meniscus has a good blood supply and small tears in that zone can heal with rest and rehabilitation. The inner two-thirds of the meniscus has little or no blood supply, so tears there generally do not heal on their own. Degenerative tears in older adults often become symptom-free with conservative care even without healing. An MRI and exam tell your surgeon which category your tear falls into.
What is a bucket-handle meniscus tear and is it urgent?
A bucket-handle tear is a large tear in which a segment of the meniscus displaces into the joint and can block the knee from straightening — a locked knee. Bucket-handle tears often need prompt surgical treatment to restore motion and to give the displaced fragment the best chance of being repaired rather than removed. If your knee is locked after an injury, you should be evaluated quickly.
How is a meniscus tear diagnosed?
A meniscus tear is diagnosed through a history of how the knee was injured, a physical examination that includes joint-line tenderness and meniscus-specific tests such as the McMurray test, and an MRI that confirms the tear and shows its type and location. Aptiva Health operates its own MRI imaging centers, so most patients can get same-week MRI scheduling without the multi-week wait that hospital-based imaging typically requires.
How quickly can I be seen for a knee injury in Louisville?
Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week orthopedic appointments. New patients with imaging in hand can often be evaluated within the same week of calling. For an acute knee injury, the Immediate Injury Care walk-in clinic can evaluate the knee right away, including on-site X-ray.
Who performs meniscus surgery at Aptiva Health Louisville?
Meniscus surgery at Aptiva Health Louisville is performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons, led by Dr. J. Steve Smith, Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine. Conservative care, knee injections, and pre- and post-operative management are provided by orthopedic physician assistant Michael Gilbert, PA-C, and orthopedic nurse practitioner Becky Kostyo, APRN, who work directly with the surgical team.
Is meniscus surgery an outpatient procedure?
Yes. Arthroscopic meniscus surgery is performed on an outpatient basis through small incisions, so most patients go home the same day. Your Aptiva Health surgical team reviews your specific procedure and recovery plan before surgery.
What happens if a meniscus tear is left untreated?
An untreated meniscus tear that causes mechanical symptoms — locking, catching, or a knee that gives way — can let the torn fragment grind against and damage the joint cartilage, which can accelerate osteoarthritis over time. Some degenerative tears settle down with conservative care and do not require treatment, but a tear causing instability or a locked knee should be evaluated promptly.
Does insurance cover meniscus surgery?
Meniscus surgery is covered by most major medical insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Kentucky Medicaid plans. Meniscus injuries from a work or auto accident are commonly covered under workers' compensation or auto injury coverage (PIP and MedPay). Aptiva Health verifies benefits before your visit.
Schedule an ACL Consultation in Louisville — Schedule Now
Louisville locations serving ACL and knee patients:
Louisville East — 10100 Linn Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223. Tel: 502-909-0772
Louisville Downtown — 300 South 13th Street, Louisville, KY 40203. Tel: 502-583-1011
Louisville Middletown — 401 N English Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223. Tel: 502-909-0772
Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute — 3611 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218. Tel: 502-909-0772
Louisville Imaging — 3615 Newburg Road, Suite 106, Louisville, KY 40218. Tel: 502-909-0772
Elizabethtown and Mt. Washington locations also serve orthopedic patients:
Aptiva Health Orthopedics – Elizabethtown — 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Tel: 270-751-6706
Aptiva Health Orthopedics – Mt. Washington — 737 N Hwy 31E Bypass, Suite 2, Mt. Washington, KY 40047. Tel: 502-909-0772
Insurance accepted: Most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers' compensation, auto injury coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay.