Meniscus Tears
To help you discuss treatment options with your orthopedic surgeon, here’s a breakdown of Meniscal Tears.
What Is the Meniscus?
The meniscus is the name for the two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage between the thigh bone and the shinbone. The menisci stabilize the knee joint and act as shock absorbers.
What Is a Meniscal Tear?
A meniscal tear, more commonly known as a torn meniscus, is when a sudden bend or twist in the knee causes the meniscus to tear. It is a common knee injury in athletes, especially those involved in contact sports, though elderly people are also prone to degenerative meniscal tears as the cartilage wears out and weakens with age.
A torn meniscus causes pain, swelling, stiffness, or catching or locking sensation in your knee, making you unable to move your knee through its complete range of motion.
What Are the Treatment Options for Meniscal Tears?
The treatment for a torn meniscus depends on the type, size, and location of the tear, as well the patient’s age and activity level. If the tear is small with damage only in the outer edge of the meniscus, non-surgical treatment may be sufficient. However, if the symptoms do not resolve with non-surgical treatment, surgical treatment may be recommended.
What Is the Surgical Treatment for Meniscal Tears?
The commonly recommended surgical procedure for torn meniscus is knee arthroscopy, where a small camera is inserted through a tiny incision, enabling the surgeon to view the inside of the knee on a large screen. The surgery is performed through other small incisions.
The surgical techniques include meniscus removal (meniscectomy), meniscus repair, and meniscus replacement.
- Meniscectomy involves the removal of the torn meniscus using small instruments called shavers or scissors.Meniscus repair is when the torn meniscus is pinned or sutured depending on the extent of the tear.
- Meniscus replacement or transplantation involves the replacement of a torn cartilage with the cartilage obtained from a donor or a cultured patch obtained from a laboratory. It is considered as a treatment option to relieve knee pain if you have undergone meniscectomy.
If you have suffered a torn meniscus, and want to explore surgical and non-surgical treatment options, see how we can help you.