The meniscus is a part of your knee that is a cushion or shock absorber for the knee. It is a c-shaped disc that is between the tibia and femur. The disc is made up of cartilage and unfortunately it does not heal on its own when torn. There are two parts of the meniscus, the medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus. The medial meniscus is on the outer part of the knee and the lateral meniscus is in the inner part of the knee. Damage to either of the menisci can be classified as a meniscus tear.
How is a meniscus tear caused?
Since the meniscus is meant to be the shock absorber in the knee, injury to the meniscus is very common. The sudden stop or twist causes the meniscus to have an overload of pressure; this is generally how a meniscus tear happens. Age can also be a big factor, since the meniscus gradually starts to wear out. It is estimated that 60% of people over the age of 65 have a degenerative meniscus. Weight is also a factor, as you gain more weight more pressure will be put onto the meniscus which degenerates the meniscus.
How is it Diagnosed?
X-Ray: Since the tears are cartilage and not bone, the X-Ray imaging tests will not be able to diagnose the Meniscus tear but it will rule out any fractures.
MRI: This type of imaging will be able to give a detailed picture of everything that is going on in the knee, an MRI is needed to be done to verify that the injury is a meniscus tear.
What are the Symptoms?
When you have a meniscus tear you generally know when you have one. There will be acute pain immediately after and sometimes there can be a pop in the knee. After the meniscus has been injured it will start to become inflamed. The swelling takes a few hours to develop but it will start to become difficult to move. Patients will not be able to fully extend their knee or move more than 15 degrees with their knee.
- Popping sensation
- Swelling
- Pain when twisting or moving knee
- Knee is giving way
- Limping
- Knee locking up
What should you do when you have a Meniscus tear?
The best thing to do if you believe you just suffered from a meniscus tear injury is to use the RICE method. (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate) Combined with taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin can reduce the swelling. If the pain persists and is ongoing it is suggested that you go see an orthopedic surgeon. The Orthopedic Surgeon is most likely going to recommend getting an MRI to confirm that you have a tear in your meniscus. If the tear is bad enough, surgery may be recommended. If the surgeon believes that the tear can be helped using conservative methods such as physical therapy, that will be recommended. Physical therapy can help reduce pain and increase the function and strength of your knee.
What Surgery Can Repair a Meniscus Tear?
When conservative methods of treatment fail, surgery may be needed. A Meniscus tear repair will be recommended where the surgeon will use an arthroscope which is a medical device that has a light and camera to either remove the damaged cartilage or stitch the cartilage together. Another surgical procedure can be an Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy where the doctor will remove a piece of the damaged cartilage. An entire removal of the meniscus can also be done if the tear is bad, called an Arthroscopic total meniscectomy.
Recovery Time for a Meniscus Tear
The recovery time for a meniscus tear can last anywhere between three weeks to six months depending on the type of surgery that is done. If a total meniscectomy needs to be done, the recovery time will be much longer than an arthroscopic repair. With proper physical therapy rehabilitation, healing times can be much quicker. Following your physical therapist’s orders and continuing to do the necessary steps to get better will make your recovery speedy.
