The first thing to do with a torn meniscus in the knee is to identify the site of the meniscus tear. If the meniscus tear is at the edge of the joint capsule and is not accompanied by significant joint interlocking symptoms, it can often be treated conservatively at this time. The meniscus can heal on its own in most cases by wearing a functional knee brace, which is usually fixed for about a month, minimizing walking and avoiding sports. If the tear is near the central or inner edge of the meniscus, it will not heal on its own because there is no blood supply to this area. Arthroscopic surgery is required to shape the torn meniscus so that the meniscus can be prevented from getting stuck in the joint space, which can reduce the damage to the cartilage from the meniscus and reduce the degeneration of the joint cartilage.