Meniscus Tear – Treatment
What is the meniscus?
The human meniscus is a wedge-shaped structure in the knee that is made of fibrocartilage, a very hard but flexible material.
There are 2 menisci in the knee, the medial and lateral. The medial meniscus is located on the inside of the knee (towards the center of the body) and the lateral meniscus is located on the outside of the knee.
Their action for the smooth functioning of the knee is important and multiple.
They distribute loads and absorb shocks by acting as shock absorbers, participate in the stability and balance of the knee and with their movement they help lubricate and nourish the articular cartilage.
Injury and rupture of the meniscus
In young people, most meniscus tears are the result of trauma.
The menisci are particularly vulnerable to injuries that involve compression and rotation of the leg. It is also common for the meniscus to be damaged in conjunction with an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee.
In older individuals, many meniscal tears result from minor trauma, such as twisting the knee, squatting, or through repetitive activities that stress the joint, such as running or climbing stairs.
These tears occur because the meniscus tends to degenerate as part of the aging process.
This degeneration occurs in conjunction with early arthritic changes in the knee.
How is a meniscus tear diagnosed?
A meniscus tear often causes pain, swelling, and mechanical symptoms such as stiffness or even knee locking.
A meniscus injury can be diagnosed based on the patient’s history and physical examination. The orthopedic surgeon may also order further diagnostic tests such as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which provides a three-dimensional image of the inside of the knee joint.
How is a meniscus tear treated?
Some injuries, especially in younger patients, may require surgical treatment of the meniscus damage. The decision to repair a meniscus tear is based on many factors, such as the location and type of tear, the patient’s age, and whether the injury will be able to heal without surgery.
Several types of tears, especially in older patients, are not suitable for repair and require removal of the damaged portion.
Generally, if the patient is symptomatic and conservative treatment options, such as medication and physical therapy, combined with exercise, do not work, surgery to repair the meniscus (stapling or partial meniscectomy) is recommended.
This surgery is performed using an arthroscope, through two small holes in the knee, and usually does not require long-term hospitalization.
The patient can be discharged from the hospital the same day or, at most, spend an overnight stay.
The duration of the surgery ranges from half an hour to an hour.
Most patients ask: What is the benefit of removing the meniscus? Isn’t it an important structure in my knee?
Clearly, the meniscus plays an important role in the human knee, but once it is torn and cannot be repaired, many of the beneficial effects of this structure are lost.
If the tear causes pain and affects the functions of the knee joint, removing it is the treatment of choice.
Recovery time is determined depending on the size and type of damage (traumatic or degenerative), the age of the patient (Osteoarthritis) and the type of surgery (stapling or partial meniscectomy).
