Contemporary Management of Meniscal Tears: From Diagnosis and Surgery to Rehabilitation Strategies

Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries. They can happen to both young athletes and older individuals with degenerative joint changes, and their optimal management remains debated. This narrative review combines recent research from the PubMed database (screened in November 2024) and focuses on studies published in the last 10 years. These studies include randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, observational studies, and clinical guidelines on diagnosis, surgery, rehabilitation, and additional injectable treatments for meniscal injuries. Magnetic resonance imaging, along with a clinical exam, remains the best way to diagnose. High-level evidence shows that exercise therapy is as effective as arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for degenerative meniscal tears in the short- and long-term. However, surgery may offer faster symptom relief in selected patients. After meniscus repair surgery, rehabilitation must include gradually restoring the range of motion and load-bearing. Platelet-rich plasma, hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy are some of the adjunct treatments that may help control symptoms, but the evidence is still mixed. Today's treatment of meniscal tears should be personalized and focused on rehabilitation, taking into account the patient's clinical assessment, characteristics, and functional goals to accelerate recovery and, in the long term, possibly slow the progression of osteoarthritis.