What is Saucerization?
Saucerization is a surgical procedure performed to treat a discoid (disc-shaped) meniscus in the knee joint which is more prone to injury. The normal meniscus is crescent-shaped cartilage cushioning the ends of the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone) in the knee. There are two menisci in each knee, one on either side. During saucerization, the abnormally thick discoid meniscus is cut and re-shaped into a crescent.
Overview of Discoid Meniscus
A discoid meniscus is a rare congenital condition (occurs at birth) usually involving the outer meniscus. This meniscus is more prone to injury due to its increased thickness, but some people may not experience any problems. Once injured, the meniscus does not heal well as it has a poor blood supply. A discoid meniscus may have poor ligamentous attachments increasing its mobility. Injuries are more prevalent among the young population especially during sports involving forceful knee twisting. Symptoms of discoid meniscal injuries include knee pain, popping sensation, stiffness, and instability.
Saucerization Procedure
Saucerization is usually performed arthroscopically. The method is found to be adequate to perform both discoid meniscal saucerization and meniscal tear repair.
Your surgeon uses an arthroscope which contains a miniature camera, a pump, and instruments such as a punch and shaver to carry out the procedure. During saucerization, your surgeon will:
- Make small incisions (portals) over the knee to access the meniscus
- Insert the arthroscope and surgical instruments through the portals
- Cut and re-shape the discoid meniscus into a crescent with the help of a punch
- Smooth down the discoid meniscal rim with the help of the shaver
- Trim away a torn portion or repair the meniscal tear with stitches
- Stabilize a hypermobile meniscus with stitches
- Perform a microfracture procedure where an underlying bone is penetrated to release marrow in order to promote healing
- Close the incision with stitches and apply a dry sterile bandage
- Immobilize the knee with a brace
Post-surgery Care and Rehabilitation
After saucerization, crutches or a wheelchair is recommended depending on your age. Knee movement is restricted to a certain range for a period of 4-6 weeks.
Based on the level of healing, your surgeon may prescribe physical therapy to restore strength and mobility in the knee. These exercises typically begin 1-2 weeks after the surgery and continue for about 3-6 months.
Benefits of Saucerization
Saucerization has the following advantages:
- Simple, safe and effective approach
- Meniscus preservation and stabilization
- Minimally invasive
- Minimal neurovascular damage
- Reduced injury to knee cartilage
- Faster recovery
Prognosis
Recovery time varies from person to person depending on your age and progress with rehabilitation. Younger patients typically have better results. Recovery usually takes 3 to 6 months with an adequate rehabilitation program.
Related Topics:
- Knee Arthroscopy
- ACL Reconstruction
- Multiligament Reconstruction of the Knee
- Meniscal Surgery
- Cartilage Restoration
- Orthobiologics
- ACL Reconstruction with Patellar Tendon
- Partial Arthroscopic Meniscectomy
- Saucerization
- Intraarticluar Knee Injection
- Knee Fracture Surgery
- Arthroscopic Debridement
- LPFL Reconstruction
- Tibial Derotational Osteotomy
- Failed Meniscus Repair
- Meniscal Transplantation
- Meniscectomy
- Mosaicplasty
- Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction
- Prior Meniscectomy
- Quadriceps Tendon Repair
- Tibial Eminence Fracture
- Trochleoplasty
- ORIF of the Knee Fracture
- Chondroplasty
- Distal Femoral Osteotomy
- Hamstring Autograft
- Hamstring Allograft
- Viscosupplementation
- Physical Therapy for Knee
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- High Tibial Osteotomy
- Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy
- Patellar Tendon Repair
- Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Surgery
- Distal Realignment Procedures
- PCL Reconstruction
- LCL Reconstruction
- MCL Reconstruction
- Cartilage Replacement
- Bicompartmental Knee Resurfacing
- Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
- Subchondroplasty
- Partial Meniscectomy
- Transphyseal Surgery
- Partial Transphyseal Surgery
- Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction
- ACL Reconstruction Procedure with Hamstring Tendon
- Physeal Sparing Surgery (Anderson's Technique)
- Physeal Sparing Surgery (Micheli-KocherTechnique)
- Combined Hyaluronic Therapy for the Knee
- Matrix Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI)
- Failed Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction
- Physeal Sparing Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament
- Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone (BPTB) Autograft
- Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone (BPTB) Allograft
- Pharmacological Interventions for Knee Injuries
- Arthroscopic Reconstruction of the Knee for Ligament Injuries