When should I have arthroscopic surgery after torn meniscus?

If your doctor tells you the type of meniscus tear you have can be repaired because it is within the red-red zone (the zone that actually has a good blood supply) they have it fixed. If your tear is outside this zone or degenerative in nature then surgery for a torn meniscus is most effective if the symptoms are "mechanical"....ie: your knee pops, clicks, gives way or has sharp intermittent pains. If you have a tear that is asymptomatic (and many of us do) leave it alone.