Meniscus Tear?
- Dr. Alex Tapplin
- Nov 6
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
When Do You Need to See an Orthopedist for a Meniscus Tear? What the Evidence Shows.
If you’ve been told you might have a meniscus tear, you may wonder whether you need surgery—or even when you should see an orthopedist. The good news: many types of meniscus tears don’t require surgery.
Recent randomized trials and clinical guidelines consistently show that structured therapy works just as well as arthroscopic surgery for most degenerative meniscus tears.[1][2][3][4][5]
Why Conservative Care Works for Most People
In the absence of trauma or mechanical symptoms, a large percentage of meniscus-related knee pain improves over time. Research dating back more than a decade—and repeatedly confirmed since—shows that patients with degenerative meniscus tears who complete a structured therapy program do just as well at 6 and 12 months as patients who undergo surgery.[1][2][5]
Also, for many degenerative tears, a surgical repair isn’t even possible. Instead, the typical procedure is a partial meniscectomy, where damaged tissue is removed. This can speed the development of arthritis, which is why avoiding unnecessary surgery is strongly recommended.
When You Should See an Orthopedist:
Referral to an orthopedist is important when symptoms suggest a tear that may need surgical attention. You should seek orthopedic evaluation if:
Your knee locks and you cannot fully straighten it (often from a bucket-handle or flap tear).
You sustained a sudden traumatic injury, especially if you’re younger and the knee is swollen or unstable.
You’ve completed several weeks to months of conservative care—including rehab exercises, activity modification, and basic pain management—but still have significant pain or disability.
Everyday activities remain difficult despite appropriate treatment.
These are the cases where we refer for either an orthopedic consultation or we order an MRI.
I think I have a meniscus tear. Who should I see? My PCP, a physical therapist or the orthopedic surgeon?
As sports medicine specialists and rehabilitation focused chiropractors, we are trained in evaluation, diagnosis, and rehabilitation, making us an ideal starting point. We can:
Order imaging (MRI or X-ray) when clinically indicated
Differentiate between tears that need orthopedic referral and those that don’t
Initiate conservative treatment including rehabilitation
Coordinate referral to orthopedic specialists when appropriate
The Bottom Line
For many meniscus tears—especially degenerative ones—there is no rush to surgery. Conservative care is highly effective, and the evidence consistently supports starting with therapy and exercise before considering a surgical option. Orthopedic referral is reserved for specific tear patterns, traumatic injuries, mechanical locking, or persistent symptoms despite a proper course of rehab.
If you think your knee pain may be related to a meniscus tear, we can evaluate your knee, order imaging if needed, and help determine whether conservative care or orthopedic referral is the right next step. If you’re a candidate for conservative treatment you can provide the rehabilitation and appropriate treatments.
References:
[1] Duong V, et al. JAMA. 2023.
[2] van de Graaf VA, et al. JAMA. 2018.
[3] Hohmann E. Arthroscopy. 2023.
[4] AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline. 2021.
[5] Katz JN, et al. NEJM. 2025.
Below are three different non-surgical rehabilitation exercise programs for meniscus problems: