Deciding between surgery and physiotherapy for a meniscus tear depends heavily on the tear's type, location, and your specific symptoms. Surgery is typically recommended if you have mechanical symptoms like locking or catching in the knee, where the joint gets stuck and you can't fully straighten or bend it, or if you have persistent, debilitating pain that doesn't improve after 3-6 months of dedicated physiotherapy. A large, unstable tear in a young, active person also often requires surgical repair. Conversely, physiotherapy is usually the first and best line of treatment for smaller, stable tears, or for those without mechanical symptoms, focusing on strengthening the surrounding muscles to stabilize the knee.
The success rate for arthroscopic meniscus surgery is generally high, often cited between 85-90% for significant pain relief and improved function. The recovery time to return to sports, however, varies dramatically. For a simple meniscectomy (where the torn piece is trimmed), recovery can be as quick as 3 to 6 weeks. However, for a meniscus repair (where the tear is stitched back together), the recovery is much longer, typically 4 to 6 months, as the repaired tissue needs time to heal while bearing limited weight.
Regarding cost, in India, an arthroscopic meniscus surgery can range from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹4 lakh, depending on the city, hospital facility, and the specific procedure (repair is more expensive than a trimming). To find a recommended specialist, you should seek out an orthopedic surgeon who sub-specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Renowned hospitals with excellent sports injury departments include Fortis Hospital (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore), Apollo Hospitals (across metros), Medanta - The Medicity (Gurugram), and specialized institutes like the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) in Delhi. The key is to choose a surgeon who performs a high volume of these procedures and can clearly explain whether a repair or a trimming is best for your specific tear.