Yes, Joel Embiid has undergone three separate meniscus-related surgeries on his left knee throughout his professional basketball career.
These procedures, occurring in 2017, 2024, and 2025, were primarily performed to address lateral meniscus tears and chronic joint inflammation.
While his initial 2017 and 2024 surgeries involved a partial meniscectomy to trim torn tissue, his most recent 2025 procedure was an arthroscopic debridement, commonly referred to as a “cleanout,” designed to remove scar tissue and smooth frayed cartilage.
These medical interventions represent a strategic effort to balance the superstar’s immediate playoff availability with the long-term biological health of his knee joint.
Understanding Joel Embiid’s Left Knee Surgery Timeline
Navigating the complex medical history of an elite athlete requires a precise look at the specific dates and procedures that have shaped their career. The following sections detail each major surgical event impacting his left knee.
The 2017 Left Lateral Meniscus Partial Meniscectomy
During a dominant rookie season, the Philadelphia 76ers center suffered a bone bruise followed by a tear of the left lateral meniscus. In March 2017, he underwent his first professional knee procedure, a minor arthroscopic surgery to address the tear.
Surgeons performed a partial meniscectomy, which involves trimming away the damaged portion of the meniscus to restore smooth movement within the joint.
While successful in the short term, this injury prematurely ended his rookie campaign after he had played in just 31 games.
The 2024 Displaced Flap Tear Procedure
Following an on-court collision on January 31, 2024, where a player fell onto his leg, MRI scans revealed a displaced flap tear of the left lateral meniscus. This specific type of injury meant a piece of the cartilage had torn away and flipped over inside the joint.
On February 6, 2024, Embiid underwent his second surgery on the same knee. He opted for another partial meniscectomy (trimming) rather than a full structural repair, as a full repair would have required a 4-to-6-month recovery window and ended his season.
This choice allowed him to return in approximately eight weeks for the 2024 NBA Playoffs and the Paris Summer Olympics.
The 2025 Arthroscopic Cleanout and Debridement
Despite returning for the 2024 playoffs, his knee never fully recovered and was plagued by persistent, severe swelling.
After being limited to just 19 games during the 2024–25 season and attempting to manage the pain through fluid drainage and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, he was shut down in late February.
On April 9, 2025, he underwent a third procedure on the left knee: an arthroscopic debridement and cleanout. This surgery focused on clearing out accumulated scar tissue, smoothing down frayed cartilage, and addressing the mechanical catching or popping that had become debilitating.
What Kind of Knee Surgery Did Joel Embiid Have?
Medical procedures for professional athletes are highly specialized, often involving arthroscopic techniques that allow for faster recovery times compared to traditional open surgeries. The nature of his procedures has evolved from tissue removal to joint maintenance.
Partial Meniscectomy vs. Full Structural Repair
A partial meniscectomy, which Embiid underwent in 2017 and 2024, involves the surgical removal of the torn, unstable pieces of the meniscus.
This “trimming” is often preferred by athletes who need to return to play quickly, as it avoids the lengthy healing time required for sutures to bond cartilage back together.
However, the primary drawback of this approach is the permanent loss of the body’s natural shock absorber. Removing even small portions of the lateral meniscus can reduce the joint’s stability and protection over time.
Arthroscopic Debridement and Joint Maintenance
The April 2025 procedure was distinct from his previous surgeries as it was classified as a debridement or cleanout.
In this procedure, the surgeon uses arthroscopic tools to scrape away scar tissue and smooth down cartilage that has become worn or “frayed” due to repeated stress and previous surgeries.
This is often a necessary step for athletes dealing with chronic inflammation and swelling, as it removes the mechanical irritants within the joint that cause pain during high-impact movements.
Statistical Impact of Recurring Left Knee Injuries
The physical toll of multiple surgeries is reflected in the player’s availability and the team’s management strategies. Over the years, these injuries have created significant gaps in his playing time.
- 2016-17 Season: Limited to 31 games following the initial 2017 meniscus surgery.
- 2023-24 Season: Missed 29 regular-season games following the February 2024 surgery for the flap tear.
- 2024-25 Season: Appeared in only 19 games before the chronic swelling necessitated the April 2025 cleanout.
- 2025-26 Season: Experienced availability limitations, though his knees were reported to feel great; his major absence during this stretch was due to a 2026 emergency appendectomy.
| Year | Knee Affected | Surgery Type | Career Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Left Knee | Partial Meniscectomy | Ended rookie season after 31 games |
| 2021 | Right Knee | Non-surgical Management | Played through small tear in playoffs |
| 2024 | Left Knee | Partial Meniscectomy | Returned in 8 weeks for playoffs and Olympics |
| 2025 | Left Knee | Arthroscopic Debridement | Sidelined for the remainder of the 2024–25 season |
The Strategic Choice: Trimming Over Structural Repair
The decision to undergo a partial meniscectomy in early 2024 was a calculated risk aimed at maximizing a specific competitive window. This choice underscores the tension between immediate performance goals and future health.
The medical team and the player were faced with a difficult binary choice in February 2024. A full structural repair of the displaced flap tear would have involved suturing the cartilage back together, a process that requires the joint to be protected for several months to ensure successful healing.
While a full repair is generally better for the long-term integrity of the knee, it would have immediately ended his season and ruled him out of the Paris Summer Olympics.
By choosing the “trimming” option, he was able to return to the court in just eight weeks, providing the 76ers with their MVP for the postseason.
However, the cost of this rapid return was the permanent removal of more meniscus tissue, which likely contributed to the chronic swelling and the need for a third surgery just 14 months later.
Has Joel Embiid Had Other Major Surgeries?
While his left knee has been the primary focus of medical concern in recent years, his career has been marked by several other significant orthopedic interventions. His resilience is highlighted by his ability to return to an MVP level after each major setback.
- 2014 Right Foot Surgery: Performed in June 2014 to repair a fractured navicular bone in his right foot just prior to the NBA draft.
- 2015 Right Foot Surgery: A second procedure on the same navicular bone was required in August 2015 after imaging revealed the bone was not healing correctly, causing him to miss his entire second season.
- 2018 Orbital Surgery: Following a collision with a teammate, he underwent surgery in March 2018 to repair a fractured orbital bone around his left eye.
- 2026 Emergency Appendectomy: A non-orthopedic procedure that briefly sidelined him during the 2025–26 season.
Long-Term Outlook for Joel Embiid’s Career and Joint Health
The cumulative effect of three surgeries on a single knee joint raises valid questions about the durability of an elite center. Medical experts and team officials have closely monitored the depletion of natural cushioning in his left knee.
The Risk of Bone-on-Bone Friction
Every time a surgeon performs a partial meniscectomy, a portion of the natural shock absorber is lost forever.
With multiple trimmings, the remaining tissue becomes less effective at protecting the underlying bone, which significantly increases the risk of bone-on-bone friction and premature osteoarthritis.
This loss of cushioning was the primary driver behind the chronic, debilitating inflammation he experienced throughout the 2024–25 season.
Radical Future Medical Options
Before opting for the 2025 cleanout, reports suggested that the 76ers and their star player weighed “radical” options to extend his career.
These included a full donor meniscus transplant, which involves replacing the damaged cartilage with tissue from a cadaver, or an osteotomy.
An osteotomy is a complex procedure where the surgeon realigns the bones of the leg to shift the player’s weight off the damaged side of the knee and onto the healthier cartilage.
While these options are significant, the successful 2025 cleanout has kept him on a more traditional recovery path for now.
Current Health and Recovery Status
As of the lead-up to the 2025–26 season, team President Daryl Morey confirmed that the recovery from the April cleanout remained “on track”.
Reports from early 2026 indicated that his knees felt excellent, and the limitations he faced were managed proactively to avoid a repeat of the 2024–25 collapse.
This suggests that the “cleanout” strategy effectively managed the scar tissue issues that had hindered his movement.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Embiid’s Knee
How many surgeries has Joel Embiid had in total?
He has undergone at least six major surgeries throughout his career: three on his left knee (2017, 2024, 2025), two on his right foot (2014, 2015), and one orbital surgery (2018).
What was the most recent surgery Embiid had?
His most recent orthopedic procedure was an arthroscopic debridement and cleanout of his left knee on April 9, 2025. He also had an emergency appendectomy in early 2026.
Did Embiid have surgery on his right knee?
While he suffered a small meniscus tear in his right knee during the 2021 playoffs, he managed the injury without surgery and continued to play. All three of his major meniscus-related surgeries have been on his left knee.
Is Joel Embiid healthy for the upcoming season?
Based on recent updates, his recovery from the 2025 procedure was successful, and he was considered “fully healthy” heading into the late 2025 preseason games. His status is continually managed to ensure long-term stability.
Conclusion: The Future of Joel Embiid’s Career and Joint Health
The history of Joel Embiid’s knee health is a testament to the advanced medical interventions that allow modern athletes to sustain greatness despite significant structural challenges.
While the loss of natural meniscus tissue from multiple partial meniscectomies is a permanent change that reduces the joint’s natural shock absorption, the strategic use of arthroscopic “cleanouts” and debridement offers a viable path for the former MVP to continue competing at the highest level of the NBA.
Moving forward, the focus for the Philadelphia 76ers remains on meticulous load management and the preservation of his remaining joint integrity to mitigate the risks of premature osteoarthritis and bone-on-bone friction.
