Meniscus Tears
What are meniscus tears?
The meniscus can tear from acute trauma or as the result of degenerative changes that happen over time. Tears are noted by how they look, as well as where the tear occurs in the meniscus. Common tears include bucket handle, flap, and radial.
Meniscus tear symptoms:
You might feel a pop when you tear the meniscus. Most people can still walk on their injured knee, and many athletes are able to keep playing with a tear. Over 2 to 3 days, however, the knee will gradually become more stiff and swollen.
The most common symptoms of a meniscus tear are:
- Pain
- Stiffness and swelling
- Catching or locking of your knee
- The sensation of your knee giving way
- Inability to move your knee through its full range of motion
How do I know if I have a meniscus tear?
X-rays. X-rays provide images of dense structures, such as bone. Although an X-ray will not show a meniscus tear, an X-ray is helpful to look at the knee/lower extremity alignment and other causes of knee pain, such as osteoarthritis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. An MRI scan assesses the soft tissues in your knee joint, including the menisci, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
How are meniscus tears treated?
Both conservative care (PT, bracing, activity modification) and surgery are common treatment techniques. The type of treatment employed is dependent on many factors including: type of tear, duration of tear, activity level, and co-existing osteoarthritis.
Biologics injections, such as PRP (platelet rich plasma), are currently being studied and may show promise in the future for the treatment of meniscus tears.
Am I ready to return to sport?
Determination of readiness to play is a complex decision that includes physical, biomechanical and psychological aspects. HERE is Dr. Logan's top 10 items to consider prior to returning to sports following meniscus surgery.
