Meniscus Tear

The meniscus is a C-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure in the knee that sits on top of the leg bone (tibia). Each knee has two menisci, an inner and outer meniscus. The meniscus functions like an adapter between the rounded thighbone (femur) and flat tibia.

It also serves to help distribute the forces between the two bones over a greater area (rather than point to point), helps supply nutrition to the cartilage that lines the bones (articular cartilage), and helps stabilize the knee. The meniscus is rubbery tissue that loses its elasticity (suppleness) with age. Nonetheless, each individual meniscus can be torn. Meniscus tears are very common, occurring in up to one third of all sports injuries. The inner meniscus is injured most often.

Initial treatment consists of medications and ice to relieve pain and reduce the swelling of the affected joint. Sometimes walking with crutches until you walk without a limp is recommended (you may put full weight on the injured leg). Range-of-motion, stretching, and strengthening exercises may be carried out at home, although referral to a physical therapist or athletic trainer may be recommended. Occasionally your physician may recommend a brace or immobilizer or crutches to protect the joint. Surgery is often recommended as definitive treatment and is performed arthroscopically. Usually the tear is removed partly or completely, although in some instances it is possible to repair the cartilage (less than 20 percent of the time). After surgery or immobilization, stretching and strengthening of the injured, stiff, and weakened joint and surrounding muscles are necessary. These may be done with or without the assistance of a physical therapist or athletic trainer.