Evaluation and Management of Meniscal Tears.

J Bone Joint Surg Am · Apr 21 2026 · Review

Morgan JT, Nishioka T, Casanova F, Moatshe G, LaPrade RF, Chahla J

Division of Sports Medicine, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Chicago, Illinois

Sports Medicine

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONMeniscal preservation via individualized repair techniques and selective biologic augmentation is favored over resection, which worsens joint stress and accelerates osteoarthritis.
Abstract, as published

➢ Meniscal preservation has become the central management principle of meniscal tears. Biomechanical evidence has demonstrated that meniscal resection increases joint contact stress, accelerates osteoarthritis progression, and worsens long-term outcomes compared with repair and nonoperative management. ➢ Treatment decisions should be individualized based on tear morphology, tissue quality, and patient-specific factors. ➢ Repair technique selection (all-inside, inside-out, or outside-in) should be dictated by the tear location and pattern. ➢ Adjunct treatment strategies, such as biologic augmentation, may be used selectively to increase the potential for meniscal healing, although these strategies have inconsistent outcomes.

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