Meniscus Tear

Meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure the femur and the tibia and its function is to decrease friction and distributes body weight equally within the knee.

How Does Meniscus Gets Torn?

The nature of meniscal tear is different in younger patients from the elderly. Post-traumatic tear is more common among the youth while older adults can experience meniscus tear after a sudden abrupt move due to fraying. Together with knee arthritis, which is commonly observed in the elderly, the load on the meniscus increases. Having lost its structural properties, the meniscus may then become prone to tears.

Meniscus tear is common among people who do sports and that is why it is often known as “sports injury.” This is, of course, misleading as meniscus tear can occur in any individual. Unexpected physical movement such as sudden twist of the knee may well damage the meniscus. Such injuries are more common with individuals with weak muscle structures.

Symptoms of Meniscus Injury

Even though symptoms differ according to the shape and size of the tear, the following symptoms are commonly observed in meniscus injuries:

• Pain
• Catching or locking sensation
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Ripping sound
• Restriction of motion
• Sensation  of instability

Post-traumatic meniscus injuries may show sudden swelling around the knee. If it is a “bucket handle tear,” patients feel that their knees are locked. Pain is the common symptom in all age groups and severity of pain increases while climbing stairs or crouching.

Treatment of Meniscus Tear

Not all meniscus tears can be operated. The treatment method is chosen according to complaints and MR results. Non-surgical meniscus treatment is the preferred option for arthritis related meniscus tears in older adults. In these cases, tear is treated by exercise to strengthen the structures around the knee while physiotherapy support and knee pads may be suggested additionally if necessary. Trauma induced injury in younger age groups may be treated by taking away the pressure on the knee for a while, strengthening exercises, and getting physiotherapy support if the tear is within the blood-fed zone called “the red zone.” The meniscus can be sutured in red zone tears. However, if the meniscal tear is in the blood-free “white zone,” the damaged meniscal structure needs to be extracted.

Meniscus Surgery

Meniscus surgery calls for arthroscopy, a closed surgical method used in meniscus tears. In knee arthroscopy, restorative procedure is carried out by entering the knee from 2 or 3 small punctures with the help of a camera and surgical devices. If the location of the tear and patient’s age allows it, meniscus tear can be sutured. Knee arthroscopy has considerably reduced recovery time to a great extent as it enables patients to return to their normal lives in a matter of days. For more information on meniscus surgery and the post-operative period, please refer to our article on knee arthroscopy.