Does every meniscus tear require surgery?

Not every meniscus tear requires surgery. A distinction is made between different forms and degrees of a meniscus tear. Tears that do not reach the meniscus surface can usually be treated very well conservatively (i.e. without surgery). In these cases, targeted physiotherapy usually leads to freedom from symptoms.

In the case of meniscus tears that reach the meniscus surface, there is a risk that constant friction will cause cartilage damage. For this reason, such meniscus tears should be operated on before cartilage damage has occurred.
A meniscus tear that leads to a joint blockage or entrapment syndrome must be operated on in any case, as a blockage can occur again and again and lead to considerable cartilage damage.