How do meniscal tears occur

Meniscus tears can vary widely in size and severity. A meniscus can be split in half, ripped around its circumference in the shape of a C or left hanging by a thread to the knee joint.

A barely noticeable tear may resurface years later, triggered by something as simple as tripping over a sidewalk curb. In sports, a meniscus tear usually happens suddenly. Severe pain and swelling may occur up to 24 hours afterward. Walking can become difficult. Additional pain may be felt when flexing or twisting the knee. A loose piece of cartilage can get stuck in the joint, causing the knee to temporarily lock, preventing full extension of the leg.

Your doctor will generally ask you how the injury occurred, how your knee has been feeling since the injury and whether you have had other knee injuries. You may be asked about your physical and athletic goals to help your doctor decide on the best treatment for you. Your doctor will hold your heel while you lie on your back and, with your leg bent, straighten your leg with his or her other hand on the outside of your knee as he or she rotates your foot inward.

There may be some pain. It is important to describe your symptoms accurately. The amount of pain and first appearance of swelling can give important clues about where and how bad the injury is. Tell your doctor of any recurrent swelling or of your knee repeatedly giving way. A magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan is often used to diagnose meniscal injuries. The meniscus shows up as black on the MRI. Any tears appear as white lines.

An MRI is 70 to 90 percent accurate in identifying whether the meniscus has been torn and how badly. However, meniscus tears do not always appear on MRIs. Meniscus tears, indicated by MRI, are classified in three grades. Grades 1 and 2 are not considered serious. They may not even be apparent with an arthroscopic examination.

Grade 3 is a true meniscus tear and an arthroscope is close to percent accurate in diagnosing this tear. If your MRI indicates a Grade 1 or 2 tear, but your symptoms and physical exam are inconsistent with a tear, surgery may not be needed. Skip to content.

Medial and Lateral Meniscus Tears Not what you're looking for? But if the tear is in the inner two-thirds, which lack blood flow, the tear cannot be repaired and may need to be trimmed or removed surgically. The first step in treating a torn meniscus is getting the injury examined by a physician who specializes in orthopedics. They may also order imaging test, such as an MRI or X-ray, to determine the exact location and severity of the tear.

The best course of treatment will be determined based on the location, degree, and type of tear, as well as your age and activity level. For more severe tears, surgery is typically the best course of treatment. The goal of surgery is to preserve the meniscus by repairing or removing the torn part. The procedure is typically done arthroscopically, meaning a small camera is inserted into a tiny incision in the knee to guide the surgeon in repairing or removing the tear using small instruments inserted into another tiny incision.

After surgery, you may need to participate in physical therapy to strengthen your knee, regain your range of motion, and get back to your activity.

Get pain management and fitness tips from our orthopaedic doctors, stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in the orthopaedics field, and hear from patients like you, who achieved what once seemed impossible.

About this Blog Get pain management and fitness tips from our orthopaedic doctors, stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in the orthopaedics field, and hear from patients like you, who achieved what once seemed impossible. Date Archives Year Share This Page: Post Tweet. Find a Program or Service. The meniscus can be torn during activities that cause direct contact or pressure from a forced twist or rotation. A sudden pivot or turn, deep squatting, or heavy lifting can lead to injury.

Many athletes are at risk for a meniscus tear. Sports that require sudden turns and stops may put you at higher risk for meniscus tears.

Some of these sports include:. This is because children are participating in organized sports at an earlier age. Additionally, when focusing on just one sport, a child is more likely to experience a meniscus tear. The same is true for adolescents who participate in competitive sports. The meniscus weakens with age. Tears are more common in people over the age of Movements like squatting or stepping can lead to injury in someone with weak menisci.

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder involving pain and stiffness in your joints caused by aging and wear and tear. This is when the cartilage in the knee becomes weaker and thinner. When a meniscus tear occurs, you may hear a popping sound around your knee joint. Afterward, you may experience:. You may also experience a slipping or popping sensation, which is usually an indication that a piece of cartilage has become loose and is blocking the knee joint.

Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms and they persist for more than a few days or occur after your knee has been injured. Your doctor also may perform a McMurray test to look for a meniscal tear. This test involves bending your knee and then straightening and rotating it. You may hear a slight pop during this test. This can indicate a tear of the meniscus.

However, it can be helpful to determine if there are any other causes of your knee pain, like osteoarthritis. An MRI uses a magnetic field to take multiple images of your knee. Sometimes, meniscus tears may not show up on an MRI because they can closely resemble degenerative or age-related changes.

Additionally, a doctor may make an incorrect diagnosis that a person has a torn meniscus. This is because some structures around the knee can closely resemble a meniscus tear. An ultrasound uses sound waves to take images inside the body. This will determine if you have any loose cartilage that may be getting caught in your knee.

If your doctor is unable to determine the cause of your knee pain from these techniques, they may suggest arthroscopy to study your knee.