Torn Meniscus

What Yous Need to Know

  • The meniscus is a c-shaped pad of cartilage in the knee joint that acts every bit a stupor absorber.
  • Each articulatio genus has two menisci.
  • Meniscus tears are common articulatio genus injuries.
  • Genu arthroscopy is oftentimes used to care for meniscal tears.

What is a meniscus tear?

The menisci sit between the tibia (lower leg os) and the femur (thigh bone) and protect the lower part of the leg from the shock created by our body weight. The medial meniscus sits on the inside of the knee and the lateral meniscus sits on the outside of the knee.

Meniscus tears ordinarily have identify when an athlete twists or turns their upper leg while their foot is planted and their knee is bent.

Occasionally menisci tin can develop every bit a block or disk shape, which is called a discoid meniscus. A discoid meniscus is more than likely to tear and commonly presents in babyhood.

Anatomy of the knee showing a healthy meniscus and a torn meniscus.

What are the symptoms of a meniscus tear?

Symptoms of a meniscus tear may be different for each person, but some of the most mutual symptoms are:

  • Pain in the genu joint: usually on the within (medial), exterior (lateral) or back of the articulatio genus

  • Swelling

  • Communicable or locking of the knee joint

  • Inability to fully extend or curve the knee joint

  • Limping

The symptoms of a meniscus tear are similar to other medical atmospheric condition or issues. Always run into your health intendance provider for a diagnosis.

Meniscus Tear| Grace's Story

After tearing her left meniscus, Grace Herpel feared she might never run again. But her fright was replaced with hope when she was referred to our Women's Sports Medicine Program.

How is a meniscus tear diagnosed?

If a meniscal tear is suspected, your orthopedist will conduct a thorough health history and evaluation of the knee and may likewise order X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm the diagnosis and further evaluate the knee articulation:

Ten-ray

An X-ray is a diagnostic examination that uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film. When a standard X-ray is not authentic plenty, a joint Ten-ray with contrast dye may also be used to examine joints such equally the genu or hip.

MRI

An MRI is a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a figurer to produce detailed images of organs and structures inside the body; tin oft determine damage or disease in a surrounding ligament or muscle.

Meniscus Injuries | Q&A with Dr. Andrew Cosgarea

Pain or a catching feeling in the human knee—could information technology be a meniscus tear? Andrew Cosgarea, M.D., principal of the partition of sports medicine at Johns Hopkins Orthopaedics, answers common questions about meniscus injuries.

Handling for a meniscus tear

Specific treatment for a meniscus tear will be adamant past your md based on:

  • Your historic period

  • Your overall health and medical history

  • How bad your injury is

  • How well you lot can tolerate specific medications, procedures, and therapies

  • The length of time it will take to heal

  • Your stance or preference

Treatment may include:

  • Icing

  • Medication, such as ibuprofen

  • Muscle-strengthening exercises

  • Arthroscopic surgery

Arthroscopic meniscus repair

Arthroscopy

Knee joint arthroscopy, a minimally invasive process, is oftentimes used to care for meniscal tears. During an arthroscopy, a small, lighted, optic tube (arthroscope) is inserted through a minor incision in the joint. Images of the inside of the articulatio genus are then projected on a screen allowing the provider to repair or trim out the torn portion of the meniscus. For young patients, preserving as much of the meniscus as possible is important to preserving human knee health.

When the meniscus is repaired, sutures are used to agree the meniscus together while the trunk heals the site. Pediatric meniscal tears treated with arthroscopy tend to heal better than those managed with other handling options.

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