What Happens If You Tear Your Meniscus – Although meniscal tears are most common in athletes, anyone can suffer such an injury. Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee cartilage injuries that can be quite painful and debilitating.
At Summit Orthopedics, our orthopedic surgeons are highly experienced in the treatment of meniscal tears. They, along with our compassionate staff, are here to help you if you have a torn meniscus.
What Happens If You Tear Your Meniscus
The meniscus is a C-shaped wedge of cartilage that sits between the thigh (femur) and knee bone (tibia) in the knee joint, acting as a shock absorber.
How To Heal A Torn Meniscus Naturally
There are two meniscus in the knee: one on the inside (medial) side of the knee and one on the outside (lateral) side of the knee. Injuries to the medial meniscus or lateral meniscus are common and are commonly referred to as “cartilage tears.”
Meniscal tears are often associated with knee ligament tears. When a person injures one of the major supporting ligaments of the knee, the knee can become unstable, increasing the chance of a meniscus tear.
However, patients can experience degenerative meniscal tears without any significant knee injury. Medial (inner) meniscal tears are more common than lateral (outer) meniscal tears.
In young people, the most common cause of sudden (acute) tears of the menisci is a combined weight-bearing and torsional injury to the knee.
How To Heal A Torn Meniscus Naturally
With a meniscus tear, the knee is usually painful and/or swollen, and the pain worsens with certain movements, such as bending or twisting the knee. Certain knee maneuvers can cause a “click,” “pop,” or sharp pain, usually located at the medial or lateral joint line (the space between the thigh and shinbone).
If the torn piece of the meniscus is large, it can cause the knee to seize, lock, or separate. Entrapment occurs when a torn piece of the meniscus spends some time between the bones, then comes out. If the sliver fails, the knee remains “locked” and cannot fully bend or straighten. A block can be short (last seconds or minutes) or continuous (last weeks). Impingement occurs when the torn menisci slips out of place, causing pain and reflex relaxation in the thigh muscles. When the muscles relax, the knee “gives” or “gives.”
Our orthopedic surgeons usually diagnose a meniscus tear with a physical exam, as well as imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other potential knee injuries. X-rays cannot diagnose a meniscal tear, but are useful to rule out osteoarthritis, loose bone fragments, or broken bones—conditions that mimic the symptoms of a meniscal tear. Occasionally, an imaging test called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Meniscal tears can be treated with nonsurgical or surgical treatment options, depending on the severity of the tear.
Meniscus Tear Treatment With 4 Exercises To Avoid Surgery
Nonsurgical treatment of a meniscus tear may include activity modification, ice, medications to reduce pain and/or swelling, and physical therapy.
A small meniscal tear that occurs at the outer edge of the meniscus does not require surgical treatment to heal, as the area has a rich blood supply that helps promote healing.
Meniscus tear surgery can be approached in several ways. Our orthopedic surgeons will explain all of your options to help you make the best decision for your needs.
Arthroscopic surgery may be recommended if a torn meniscus does not heal with nonsurgical treatment and recurrent pain, swelling, or stiffness persists.
Do I Need To Address My Meniscus Tear With Surgery? — The Knee Joint
Arthroscopic surgery allows the orthopedic surgeon to perform surgery without the need for large incisions. A small camera called an arthroscope is inserted into a small incision, allowing the orthopedic surgeon to view the inside of the knee on a monitor. Surgical instruments are inserted through an additional small incision to complete the operation. Finally, this smaller incision allows for a faster recovery time and less pain after surgery.
In some cases, the damaged meniscal tissue can be simply cut out in a procedure called a meniscectomy. In other cases, a torn meniscus can be repaired by sewing it back together.
After meniscus surgery, most patients can go home the same day. Medications may be given to relieve pain during recovery. Patients work with a physical therapist after surgery to improve knee mobility and strength.
Most patients are able to resume all normal activities after a full recovery. Full recovery time may vary depending on the type of procedure. Patients who undergo meniscectomy usually recover within 3 to 4 weeks. Patients who have a meniscus repair procedure have a longer recovery time, usually about 3 months, to allow the meniscus to heal back together.
Meniscus Surgery Alternative: Please Read This First
At Summit Orthopedics, we have board-certified orthopedic surgeons with experience treating meniscal tears. If you would like to make an appointment with one of our orthopedic surgeons, please call us at (503) 850-9940. Quick answer meniscus; The medial menisci and lateral menisci are crescent-shaped bands of thick, rubbery cartilage attached to the shin bone (tibia). They act as the main shock absorbers of the knee. The medial meniscus is located inside the knee. The lateral meniscus is on the outside of the knee. The meniscus acts to disperse body weight and reduce friction during movement.
The menisci can be torn during activities that cause direct contact or stress from a forced twist or rotation. A sudden pivot or turn, deep squatting or heavy lifting can cause a meniscus tear. Many people of all shapes and sizes are prone to meniscal tears. Athletes are at increased risk of meniscal tears from the above mentioned activities. Athletes who play sports such as football, soccer, basketball and tennis are at risk. If you have osteoarthritis, you are more at risk of tearing your kneecap or your meniscus. Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease that involves pain and stiffness in the joints caused by aging and wear and tear of the knee.
When a meniscus tear occurs, you may feel a pop around the knee. Later, you may experience sudden pain, especially when the area is touched to the touch, increased swelling, difficulty moving the knee or inability to move it through a full range of motion due to pain, feeling that the knee is locked or locked, feeling. Your knees buckle or don’t support you when you stand or walk. It is advisable to consult your doctor if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above.
Diagnosing a meniscal tear is necessary to first determine if the tear is present or if your knee symptoms are caused by something else. Based on the results, diagnostic tests are done to determine which meniscus is torn, how much damage it has done, and what type of treatment is recommended. There are different types and severities of meniscal lesions. Things that can be done include completing a patient history, physical exam, and possible imaging such as an MRI.
Knee Injuries: Signs Of A Torn Knee Meniscus
1. Intrasubstance/Incomplete tear: Intrasubstance tear is a common finding on MRI report and is usually seen during surgery. Often these are signs of early degenerative changes in the meniscal tissue. Incomplete and intrasubstantial tears of the menisci are stable tears and usually do not require any surgical treatment.
2. Radial tears: These tears are located in the meniscal region, where there is no blood supply, the tear is difficult to heal. Usually, these tears require some form of surgical treatment and the only option is to shave the damaged part of the meniscus.
3. Horizontal Tears: Horizontal tears are the most common tears that require meniscal repair. Instead of removing the damaged part of the meniscus, a horizontal tear can be sutured.
4. Flap tear: A flap tear in the menisci is an uncommon pattern of menisci tear. In cases where the flap is causing knee symptoms, the flap can usually be removed from the meniscus without removing too much tissue.
Treating Meniscal Tears
5. Complex tears: Complex tears are those where there is a combination of tear patterns. A complex lesion usually includes radial and horizontal lesion patterns. Typically, complex tears are not treated with meniscal repair due to the complex nature of the tear.
6. Bucket Handle Tear: A bucket handle tear is a large horizontal tear in the meniscus. This type of tear usually causes the knee to stick together when the torn part of the meniscus causes the normal knee motion to be restricted. Bucket sleeve tears usually require additional surgery to allow the knee to begin bending again.
You’re probably wondering how physical therapy can help meniscal tears. Meniscal tears can usually be managed without surgery, but they may also be recommended after meniscal surgery. A short course of treatment provided by a physical therapist can help with recovery. Your physical therapist can help control pain and swelling in the knee area and work with you
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