Meniscal Tear

Introduction A meniscus tear occurs when the tough c-shaped cartilage in your knee gets torn. Inside your knee, there are two cartilage pieces located between your thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia). This cartilage is called the meniscus. These rubbery wedges cushion your bones and absorb shock in your knee joint. A sudden twist or sharp rotation of your knee can cause it to tear. As you age, the cartilage in your knees becomes thinner and less sturdy. Weakened cartilage tears more readily. Arthritis, which involves the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, may also cause a meniscus tear. This injury affects people who play sports, including kids and teens, as it is a common sports-related issue.

Types of Meniscus Tears Types of meniscus tears are: Medial meniscus tears: This type of tear happens to the cartilage on the inner side of your knee. Lateral meniscus tears: This tear involves the cartilage on the outer side of the knee.

Symptoms of Meniscus Tears Many people with a torn meniscus feel a popping sensation in their knees when the injury occurs. Other signs of a meniscus tear may include:

• Feeling as if your knee is locked
• Experiencing knee pain and tightness
• Swelling in the affected knee
• Struggling to bend or extend your leg

Causes of Meniscus Tears Sudden twisting of the knee while the foot stays firm on the ground can cause an acute meniscus tear. These tears often happen during sports. In older people or those with arthritis, even small movements like stepping on an uneven surface can lead to a tear. Arthritis-related wear can sometimes result in a tear without any injury to the knee.

Who is Likely to Have a Meniscus Tear? People who play sports like soccer, basketball, tennis, or football face a high chance of tearing a meniscus. Quick, twisting motions during these games can cause this injury. Playing contact sports heightens this risk, too. Getting tackled or hit might force your knee to twist, tearing the cartilage. Over time, though, wear and tear on the cartilage causes degenerative meniscus tears, which are common regardless of how active you are.

How to Diagnose Meniscus Tear? Your doctor will check your knee to spot swelling. They might perform:

• McMurray test
• Thessaly test
• Imaging scans an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to see the damage.
• If needed, your doctor might suggest knee arthroscopy to examine and confirm the injury.

What is the treatment of Meniscus Tear? The size and location of a meniscus tear can determine if it heals without needing surgery. Your doctor might suggest using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine like aspirin or ibuprofen to manage pain and bring down swelling. After the injury, you should also use the RICE method.

• Rest: Avoid putting weight on your hurt knee
• Ice: Use an ice pack on your knee for 20 minutes a few times a day.
• Compression: Use a bandage to wrap your knee so the swelling goes down.
• Elevation: Keep your leg propped up above your heart to bring down swelling.

Your doctor might suggest you work with a physical therapist to build strength in your knee and help you move it better. If rest, ice, compression, elevation, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy do not improve your condition, your doctor might suggest meniscus surgery. This surgery uses an invasive approach and requires little recovery time.

Prevention It may not be easy to avoid sudden injuries, but there are ways to lower your chances of tearing a meniscus, including: Build up strength in the muscles that keep your knee steady and supported. Use a knee brace if your knee feels weak or unstable. Increase the intensity of your workouts over time. Choose athletic shoes that fit the sport or activity you’re doing.