Meniscus Tear

KNEE MENISCUS ANATOMY

DISEASE EXPLAINED

SYMPTOMS

If you’ve torn your meniscus, you might have the following signs and symptoms in your knee:

A popping sensation

Swelling or stiffness

Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee

Difficulty straightening your knee fully

Feeling as though your knee is locked in place when you try to
move it

Feeling of your knee giving way

CAUSES

A torn meniscus can result from any activity that causes you to forcefully twist or rotate your knee, such as aggressive pivoting or sudden stops and turns. Even kneeling, deep squatting or lifting something heavy can sometimes lead to a torn meniscus.

In older adults, degenerative changes of the knee can contribute to a torn meniscus with little or no trauma.

TREATMENT

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Treatment for a torn meniscus often begins conservatively, depending on the type, size and location of your tear.

Tears associated with arthritis often improve over time with treatment of the arthritis, so surgery usually isn’t indicated. Many other tears that aren’t associated with locking or a block to knee motion will become less painful over time, so they also don’t require surgery.

Your doctor might recommend:

REST.
Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain, especially any activity that causes you to twist, rotate or pivot your knee. If your pain is severe, using crutches can take pressure off your knee and promote healing.

ICE.
Ice can reduce knee pain and swelling. Use a cold pack, a bag of frozen vegetables or a towel filled with ice cubes for about 15 minutes at a time, keeping your knee elevated. Do this every four to six hours the first day or two, and then as often as needed.

MEDICATION.
Over-the-counter pain relievers also can help ease knee pain.

THERAPY
Physical therapy can help you strengthen the muscles around your knee and in your legs to help stabilize and support the knee joint.

SURGERY
If your knee remains painful despite rehabilitative therapy or if your knee locks, your doctor might recommend surgery. It’s sometimes possible to repair a torn meniscus, especially in children and young adults.

If the tear can’t be repaired, the meniscus might be surgically trimmed, possibly through tiny incisions using an arthroscope. After surgery, you will need to do exercises to increase and maintain knee strength and stability.

If you have advanced, degenerative arthritis, your doctor might recommend a knee replacement. For younger people who have signs and symptoms after surgery but no advanced arthritis, a meniscus transplant might be appropriate. The surgery involves transplanting a meniscus from a cadaver.