The knee joint consists of many structures, each of which has a specific role to play. The meniscus is one of those structures made up of fibrous cartilage. In the knee joint, there are 2 menisci present that work as a shock absorber. Meniscus lies between the tibia and femur bones.
The commonest knee injury is the damage caused to the meniscus. Twisting activities or rotational activities like sudden knee twisting during football or basketball game, or twisting while putting weight on the leg can also cause tear meniscus.
Generally, meniscus damage/tear is divided into 6 types:
- Intrasubstance/Incomplete Tear
- Flap Tear
- Radial Tear
- Horizontal Tear
- Complex Tear
- Bucket-Handle Tear
- Forceful twisting or rotating activities
- Pivoting movement
- The sudden stop and turning activity
- Kneeling position and deep squatting
- Sometimes pivoting movement with more than regular weight can also cause damage to the meniscus.
- In older people, there are chances of meniscus tear due to degenerative changes in knee joint
- Activities involving twisting movement
- Pivoting movement
- Athletes are more prone
- Degenerative changes and Obesity
- Sudden knee pain.
- A popping feels in knee.
- Swollen knee.
- Joint stiffness.
- Knee locking.
- Giving way sensation.
- Pain raise with twisting activities or rotating activities.
- Pain and difficulty in knee straightening.
- Physical examination: The doctor performs an examination of the leg in different positions.
- The doctors observe your walking and ask to perform squat.
- X-rays: X-ray is performed to check for any bony injury, meniscus is not visible in x-Ray.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): It is the best investigation to diagnose meniscus damage.
- Arthroscopy: A thin wired camera is pushed into the joint through a small incision. instruments that can repair the damage are inserted in the knee joint. Arthroscopy is used for both diagnoses and corrective measures.
- Take rest: Activities like twisting pivoting, etc. should be avoided.
- In the case of severe knee pain, you can use support like crutches and braces.
- Do icing: Icing will reduce the swelling. Each day performs for 10-20 minutes and 3-4 times a day.
- You can also use painkillers as prescribed by your doctors.
- To strengthen your muscles around the knee to support and stabilize the knee.
- An Operative procedure is needed when non-operative treatment procedures are
failed:
- Arthroscopy: Is minimally invasive and used to repair joint injuries like meniscal tears or ligament tear, etc
- Meniscus transplant surgery
- Joint replacement surgery, in case of severe degeneration and meniscus tear.
Conservative
