Medication
This means that treatment can be administered to the more isolated avascular area of the meniscus that often remains unrepaired in surgical procedures. By introducing growth factors to this area, the meniscus tear can heal more completely and offer a higher resilience against future injuries.
Procedures
Acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen are used to treat pain and swelling associated with meniscus tears. Cortisone injections may temporarily decrease the pain associated with a tear but cannot heal a meniscus tear.
Therapy
During the meniscus surgery, a small instrument called an arthroscope, which has a camera at its tip, is inserted into your knee. Orthopaedic knee surgeons use arthroscopic knee surgery to pinpoint the location of the meniscus tear and repair or remove the damage, depending on the location and pattern of the tear and condition of the meniscus.
Self-care
Also, the medial meniscus absorbs up to 50% of the medial compartment’s shock, making the medial meniscus susceptible to injury. Meniscus reinforces the rotational stability created by the anterior cruciate ligament. The meniscus likewise acts as a shock absorber. As we walk, run, jump and play sports the knee gets tremendous forces.
Nutrition
What is the best treatment for a meniscus tear?
Can ibuprofen help a torn meniscus?
What is involved in meniscus surgery?
Why is the medial meniscus so susceptible to injury?
What happens when a torn meniscus locks the knee?
A torn meniscus needs immediate attention when it "locks" the knee. A knee is locked when it will neither completely bend or completely straighten because something is caught inside. Locking implies that the torn part of the meniscus has displaced into a part of the knee where it doesn't belong or fit.
How do you fix a locked meniscus?
To treat a meniscus tear, your doctor will likely recommend rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medication. They are also likely to recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around your knee and in your legs, which will help stabilize your knee joint and reduce pain and locking.
What is the best treatment for medial meniscus tear?
What's the Treatment for a Meniscus Tear?Rest the knee. ... Ice your knee to reduce pain and swelling. ... Compress your knee. ... Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you're sitting or lying down.Take anti-inflammatory medications. ... Use stretching and strengthening exercises to help reduce stress to your knee.More items...•
Can a medial meniscus tear heal without surgery?
In the case of meniscus tears, some people think the injury will heal over time on its own. But the truth is that there are different types of meniscus tears — and some tears won't heal without treatment. If your tear is on the outer one-third of the meniscus, it may heal on its own or be repaired surgically.
Why is a locked knee an emergency?
Typically there is no need to consult orthopedics emergently. A locked knee can result in temporary or permanent disability from contractures and flexion deformity. Arthroscopy is warranted if the patient still has a locked knee or has MRI results (such as with this patient) concerning for an intra-articular body.
Does a knee brace help a torn meniscus?
Will a knee brace help a torn meniscus? Yes. Although knee braces do not heal or treat your meniscus tear directly, they can provide extra support and stability for your knee while your meniscus injury heals. A good brace will protect your knee and take the pressure off your meniscus, allowing it to rest.
Can you make a torn meniscus worse?
If you have a mild ache during the run, or a mildly sore knee after a run then you can often continue running. There is very little risk that running will worsen the tear. Meniscus tears can always worsen… remember, this is a process of degeneration.
What happens if you leave a torn meniscus untreated?
An untreated meniscus tear can result in the frayed edge getting caught in the joint, causing pain and swelling. It can also result in long term knee problems such as arthritis and other soft tissue damage.
How long does it take for a torn meniscus to heal without surgery?
Meniscus tears are the most frequently treated knee injuries. Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery. If your symptoms persist after 3 months or your symptoms become significant, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the tear.
Is walking good for a torn meniscus?
If your doctor has told you that you don't need surgery to repair your torn meniscus, you may be given the green light to walk. However, you'll want to be very careful about movements that might worsen the tear or cause you pain. Avoid squatting and pivoting, which are likely to place too much pressure on the knee.
Is it worth having meniscus surgery?
What are the benefits? Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not. Surgery to repair tears may reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.
Is there an alternative to surgery for a torn meniscus?
One treatment option that is currently revolutionizing meniscus tears is cell regenerative treatments. Stem cell treatments and platelet-enriched plasma can be great treatment choices for a patient who has a degenerative meniscus tear. The treatments will revitalize the cells in the meniscus.
What is the best treatment for meniscus tear?
Older people, whose meniscus tears are the result of age and wear and tear, may benefit from physical therapy and guided exercise, non-steroidal pain medication, and other non-surgical treatment . Returning to Sports Activities. Athletes who want to return to their normal level of activity may benefit from minimally invasive arthroscopic knee ...
What is the procedure to repair a meniscus tear?
Meniscus Surgery. During the meniscus surgery, a small instrument called an arthroscope, which has a camera at its tip, is inserted into your knee. Orthopaedic knee surgeons use arthroscopic knee surgery to pinpoint the location of the meniscus tear and repair or remove the damage, depending on the location and pattern of the tear and condition ...
What is the cartilage that protects the knee joint and surrounding bones from the stresses of walking, running, and
The meniscus is the cartilage that cushions and protects the knee joint and surrounding bones from the stresses of walking, running, bending, and climbing. Forceful twists from sudden stops or pivots -- common in football, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, and golf -- or deep knee bends can cause the meniscus to tear.
How to get back to normal after meniscus surgery?
Knee-specific exercises strengthen the muscles that surround and stabilize the knee joint. Physical therapy will help prepare your knee for surgery and help you get back to your normal activities faster after surgery. It rarely eliminates the need for meniscus surgery in a younger person or someone without any arthritis. A skilled therapist can provide recommendations for an exercise program as appropriate for the type of tear and discomfort.
What is a transplanted meniscus?
The transplanted meniscus, which is donated from a cadaver, uses plugs to secure it to the native bone, and stitches secure it to the joint capsule. RELATED BLOG ARTICLE. Knee Arthroscopic Surgery for Meniscus Tears.
What is MRI in knee?
An MRI evaluates the soft tissues -- muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons -- of the knee. An MRI helps knee specialists assess the specific part of the cartilage that is damaged. Wear-and-Tear Injuries.
What is the best way to check for popping and clicking in the knee?
A physical exam is performed to assess tenderness along the knee joint and to determine if there is popping/clicking of the knee with rotational movement. X-rays check for broken bones and the presence of arthritis. An MRI evaluates the soft tissues -- muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons -- of the knee.
What is a meniscus tear?
Meniscus Tear Treatment. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped disc of cartilage found between the bones of the knee ( the femur and tibia). Each knee has two menisci that cushion the joint. Depending on the severity of the tear, symptoms of a torn meniscus may include pain, swelling, stiffness, clicking or locking of the knee.
What is the most common surgery for a meniscus tear?
Partial Meniscectomy. The most common type of surgery for a meniscus tear is a partial meniscectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon will trim off the torn part of the meniscus, leaving behind as much of the intact meniscus tissue as possible.
How long does it take for a meniscus tear to heal?
Because the meniscus tissue needs to heal back together, recovery time is longer for this procedure than a partial meniscectomy. It is common for patients to be on crutches for about two weeks and in a brace for up to six weeks after surgery. It may be six months or more before it is safe to return to sports activities.
Can a meniscus tear cause another knee injury?
We will help you choose the best treatment plan to meet your needs. Having torn your meniscus once could make you more likely to experience another knee injury.
Why is knowing where a meniscus tear is located important?
Because the blood supply is different to each part of the meniscus, knowing where the tear is located may help decide how easily an injury might heal (with or without surgery). The better the blood supply, the better the potential for recovery.
Why does a torn meniscus occur?
A torn meniscus occurs because of trauma caused by forceful twisting or hyper-flexing of the knee joint.
How to tell if a meniscus is torn?
Symptoms and signs of a torn meniscus include knee pain, swelling, a popping sound, and difficulty bending the leg. Treatment may involve resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the knee, in addition to wearing a knee brace, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and stretching the knee.
How long does it take for a torn meniscus to heal?
If a conservative, non-surgical approach is taken, the pain and swelling of a torn meniscus should resolve within a few days. Recovery and rehabilitation become a long-term commitment, as does making certain that the muscles surrounding the knee are kept strong to promote joint stability.
What is the front part of the meniscus called?
Each meniscus is curved in a C-shape, with the front part of the cartilage called the anterior horn and the back part called the posterior horn. There is also articular cartilage that lines the joint surfaces of the bones within the knee, including the tibia, femur, and kneecap ( patella ).
What is the cartilage of the lateral meniscus?
The medial and lateral meniscus are two thicker wedge-shaped pads of cartilage attached to top of the tibia (shin bone), called the tibial plateau.
What causes knee pain?
Acute injuries, medical conditions, and chronic use conditions are causes of knee pain. Symptoms and signs that accompany knee pain include redness, swelling, difficulty walking, and locking of the knee. To diagnose knee pain, a physician will perform a physical exam and also may order X-rays, arthrocentesis, blood tests, or a CT scan or MRI. Treatment of knee pain depends upon the cause of the pain.
How to treat meniscus tear?
Specific treatment for a meniscus tear will be determined by your doctor based on: 1 Your age 2 Your overall health and medical history 3 How bad your injury is 4 How well you can tolerate specific medications, procedures, and therapies 5 The length of time it will take to heal 6 Your opinion or preference
What is the shape of a discoid meniscus?
Meniscus tears usually take place when an athlete twists or turns their upper leg while their foot is planted and their knee is bent. Occasionally menisci can develop as a block or disk shape, which is called a discoid meniscus. A discoid meniscus is more likely to tear and commonly presents in childhood. ViewMedica 8.
How is an arthroscopy done?
During an arthroscopy, a small, lighted, optic tube (arthroscope) is inserted through a small incision in the joint. Images of the inside of the knee are then projected on a screen allowing the provider to repair or trim out the torn portion of the meniscus.
What is a torn meniscus?
A torn meniscus is also seen in older patients as the result of a degenerative process . There are two menisci in the knee, the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) meniscus. These c-shaped "cushions" of cartilage help protect the articular cartilage, the lining of the bones that allows them to glide smoothly against one another during motion.
Can a torn meniscus be treated?
Arthroscopic photo of a torn meniscus. Some meniscus injuries can be treated non-surgically with rest, physical therapy, and activity modification. However, in a young and active person, choosing to forgo surgical repair of a torn meniscus is likely to result in ...
Can a torn meniscus cause pain in the knee?
However, in a young and active person, choosing to forgo surgical repair of a torn meniscus is likely to result in persistent instability, swelling, and pain in the knee, as well as setting the stage for progressive wear of the lining articular cartilage.
Why is it important to repair a medial meniscus tear?
Thus, when there is a medial knee injury such as a medial meniscus tear, it is very essential to repair the tear, because if not reconstructed and is trimmed out there will be an increase in the load on the medial compartment which finally starts to osteoarthritis and induces medial knee pain.
How to prevent meniscus tear?
One should perform quadriceps setting exercises with the knee straight or mini-squats, bending the knee only 15 degrees, to prevent the quadriceps muscle atrophy.
Why is a medial meniscus tear more common than a lateral meniscus tear?
A medial meniscus tear is more common than a lateral meniscus tear because it firmly attaches to the deep medial collateral ligament and the joint capsule. Also, the medial meniscus absorbs up to 50% of the medial compartment’s shock, making the medial meniscus susceptible to injury.
How does a medial meniscus tear happen?
Medial meniscus tears commonly happen with an ACL tear by twisting on a slightly flexed knee. This is because the medial meniscus acts as a secondary stabilizer to restrict the knee from slipping forward, and when the ACL tear, it gives extra stress on the medial meniscus which prompts to it tearing.
How long after meniscus surgery can you go back to work?
It recommends that patients who have a minimum amount of meniscus trimmed out take back on any impact activities until a minimum of 6 weeks after surgery. In cases that have a notable amount of meniscus resected, it recommended to avoid significant impact activities because of the greater risk of the development of osteoarthritis in these cases with this activity.
What is the width of a medial meniscus?
C-shaped with a triangular cross-section. Average width of 9 to 10 mm. The average thickness of 3 to 5 mm.
What is the shape of the knee meniscus?
The knee meniscus is fibrocartilage that separates the femur from the tibia. We commonly refer it to as cartilage. The knee meniscus has a wedged kidney shape . Each knee joint possesses a medial meniscus and a lateral meniscus. The medial meniscus is an important shock absorber on the medial aspect of the knee joint.
How to heal a torn meniscus?
When it comes to treating a torn meniscus, there are two primary treatments that are considered, surgical methods and regenerative orthopedic methods. Studies show that surgery alone can make things worse or put you at risk of reinjuring yourself.
What is MFAT for meniscus?
MFAT Meniscus Treatment. Lipogems, also known as micro-fragmented fat (MFAT) have been proven to help patients with knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tears, with this 2020 study indicates significant improvements in MFAT patients following treatment.
What age is a good candidate for cartilage repair?
Patients that are younger, 30 and below, are generally good candidates for repair. Once you are older repairs are typically less successful. There are portions of the cartilage situated in what is known as an avascular area, meaning there is no adjacent blood flow.
Why does cartilage tear?
Movements that place abnormal strain or forceful twisting can put undue stress on the joints, causing the cartilage to tear. Given that it is such a prevalent injury, an increasing amount of research is being done to determine the most efficacious treatment option for a torn meniscus.
What is the most common knee injury?
One of the most common knee injuries is a torn meniscus. Situated between the skin and thigh bone in the leg, your meniscus is the cartilage that separates the bones in the joint and ensures smooth, fluid movements.
Can a meniscus tear heal?
By introducing growth factors to this area, the meniscus tear can heal more completely and offer a higher resilience against future injuries.
Benefits of walking after a meniscus tear
After you have surgery to repair a meniscus tear, you may need to build up your strength in the muscles of your leg that support your knee.
Precautions
If your doctor has told you that you don’t need surgery to repair your torn meniscus, you may be given the green light to walk.
Rest
Don’t try to push yourself or try to walk it off. Take a break and rest your injured leg.
Compression
Compression helps control swelling, which naturally occurs with a meniscus tear. Gently pull a compression sleeve over your knee to reduce the swelling.
Elevation
When you’re taking a load off and resting that knee, go ahead and elevate it. This should also help bring down swelling.