Meniscus tear is a very common knee injury. Meniscus is a C-shaped disc that is rubbery and acts as a cushion for the knee. Each knee has a pair of menisci. One is located towards the outer edge and one is towards the inner edge. They help your body in balancing the weight across the knees. If the meniscus is torn it can hamper in the proper functioning of the knee. The meniscus tear usually occurs when you twist or turn rapidly. This usually takes place when you lift something heavy or while playing sports. With age the meniscus wears out and this can make the tear happen easily.

There are basically three types of meniscus tears:

1. Minor tear can have slight pain or swelling and is cured within 2 or 3 weeks.

2. Moderate tear can result in pain towards the side or center of the knee. The swelling can get worse in the first few days and can result in the knee getting stiffer and a feeling of sharp pain when you bend the knee. The symptoms go away in 1 or 2 weeks but the pain and uneasiness can come back if the knee is overused.

3. In case of severe tear the torn meniscus can move into the spaces of the joint. This can result in a knee lock, pop or catch. The knee may become stiff and there maybe problems in straightening the knee.

When you go with a case of knee injury to the doctor he will ask you about the past injuries and the activity that you were doing when you suffered from the knee injury. A torn meniscus is easy to find with the help of a physical examination. The doctor will look at the knee and check for tenderness, range of motion and how stable the knee is. X-rays are also conducted to determine the degree of the meniscus tear. For further testing, an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon is also suggested. An MRI can determine the severity of tear and also give a clear picture.

The treatment of meniscus tear depends on a number of things like the type of tear and the seriousness. Your age and the activeness are also determining factors for the choice of treatment. The treatment schedule includes:

• Resting of the knee and placing an ice pack.

• The knee should be wrapped in an elastic bandage and the leg should be rested on a pillow just below the knee.

• Regular physiotherapy sessions.

• If the tear is severe then a surgery might be suggested for repair or removal of a part of the meniscus.

Tears at the edge of the meniscus can heal with regular physical therapy and rest. For larger tears, surgery is the only option to remove a part of the meniscus. However, this type of surgery might not work well for tears that are at the center of the meniscus, they work well only for side tears. Surgery aimed at repair is a better choice for central meniscus tear. Recovery from the surgery depends on the type of surgery and the physiotherapy sessions.

Jason Ladock

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