Second degree meniscus injuries, in the case of injuries to the middle and outer 1/3 of the meniscus in young adults, can heal on their own in 2 to 3 months. In the inner 1/3 and in the elderly, second degree meniscus injuries do not heal on their own.
Due to the special anatomical structure of the meniscus, the outer 1/3 of the meniscus is connected to the joint capsule and has blood supply, the middle 1/3 of the meniscus has a small amount of capillaries, and the inner 1/3 of the meniscus is not able to heal by itself due to the lack of blood supply.
Therefore, for young adults, injuries to the middle and outer 1/3 zones can heal after treatment, such as plaster cast fixation or arthroscopic meniscus suture treatment, which usually takes 2 to 3 months.
For outer 1/3 injuries, arthroscopic meniscus trimming and molding treatment is needed because there is no blood supply and it is not self-healing. Meniscal injuries in the elderly are caused by joint degeneration and are not self-healing. Arthroscopic meniscus trimming and molding can also be performed if it has a significant impact on joint movement.
If there is a second-degree meniscus injury, it is recommended that the patient go to the hospital and under the guidance of a physician for regular treatment.