Meniscus tear: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Our knee joint is composed of three bones; femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone) and patella (kneecap). Since, it is one of the strongest joints in our body; it is also one of the most complex structural joints. Our knee performs complex functions and for that it has shock-absorbers made of fibro-cartilage and called menisci. It retains all the pressure between the thighbone and shinbone to avoid internal damage and provides knee stability in return.

Meniscus tear can happen when extra pressure is exerted on the knees. This kind of tear occurs because of sports injury or age-regression. Sports related knee injuries happens along with other knee injuries like ACL tear. Meniscus tears are very common in people involved in sports.

What are torn meniscus symptoms?

A torn meniscus invites pain in the knee joint every now and then and gets worse when putting pressure on the joint. Another symptom one can experience is swelling and stiffness around knee area.

What happens when it is ignored?

There are chances that if the tear is ignored then the meniscus can slip into the joint and it will require a full knee surgery to retain the meniscus. Also, tears can increase the chances of arthritis.

How is meniscus tear treatment done?

The injury is examined properly to check the soreness of the knee joint and will be asked to perform several knee movements in order to observe the range of motion. MRI or X-rays can also be performed to detect the exact location of injury site and it severity. Then after, the treatment plan is decided based on the degree, location and type of tear.

For severe tears, surgery is the best course of treatment. The meniscus is preserved by repairing or eliminating the injured part. This procedure is performed with the help of a tiny camera that is being inserted into a small incision in the knee to focus on the torn area. Small instruments are then inserted from another incision to remove or repair the meniscus. This procedure is called arthroscopy. And it is recommended to take physical therapy after the surgery to regain the motion range and strength of the knee.

Non-surgical treatments allow the minor tears to heal on their own. They include; physical therapy, RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) and anti-inflammatory medications.

How long does it take to recover?

Meniscus tear recovery time can take up to 3 to 6 months. In the meanwhile, the patient might have to opt with knee braces or immobilizer to prevent the knee bending while bearing weight which increases the chances of re-tearing of the meniscus that is being repaired.

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