The main types of meniscus surgery include arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and meniscus repair. Surgeons favor minimally invasive arthroscopy to trim unstable edges or suture tears. The choice depends on tear location, blood supply, and patient age. Lithuania offers these procedures in Joint Commission International-accredited facilities.
- Partial meniscectomy: Surgeons remove only torn tissue and smooth the remaining meniscus surface.
- Meniscus repair: Doctors use specialized sutures to reattach torn edges in vascular zones.
- Meniscus transplant: Surgeons replace severely damaged tissue with a donor allograft during surgery.
- Knee osteotomy: Specialists realign the leg to shift pressure from the damaged compartment.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Quality of treatment in Lithuania is driven by heavy patient volume. Meliva Kardiolita Hospital alone serves 298,000 patients annually with over 500 doctors. This high repetition helps surgeons like Dr. Justinas Vaiciulis maintain expertise in complex knee arthoscopies. Patients can find JCI-accredited care here that rivals Western Europe but often with shorter waiting lists.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize pushing for a repair instead of removal to protect long-term knee health. They note that while meniscectomy recovery is much faster, strict physical therapy is the most critical factor for returning to sports.