Meniscus Tears

Meniscus tears are among the most prevalent knee injuries. Athletes, predominantly those who play contact sports, are at greatest risk for meniscus tears. However, anyone at any age can tear the meniscus. Tears are classified on their appearance, as well as their exact location. Common tears include bucket-handle, flap, and radial. Sports-related meniscus injuries often don’t occur in isolation – they usually occur along with other knee injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.

Causes

Acute meniscus tears often happen due to the following:

• Sports – These can occur through either a contact or non-contact injury — for example, a pivoting or cutting injury.
• Age – People are more likely to have degenerative meniscus tears due to age progression. Aged tissue is more susceptible to tears.

An awkward twist when getting up may be enough to create a tear in an aging meniscus.

Symptoms

You might feel a popping sound when you tear the meniscus. While most people can still walk on their injured knee, however, after 2-3 days, the knee gradually becomes considerably stiff and swollen. Common symptoms of a meniscus tear include:

• Pain
• Locking of your knee
• Incapability to move your knee through its full range of motion
• Stiffness and swelling

Physical Examination

After discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will examine your knee. They will check for tenderness along the joint line, which may indicate a torn meniscus. Your doctor may conduct a McMurray test, including putting tension on a torn meniscus. This movement may cause pain or clicking within the joint if you have a meniscus tear.

Imaging Tests

These are crucial to reach a correct diagnosis.

X-rays

X-rays provide images of dense structures, such as bone.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An MRI scan assesses the soft tissues in your knee joint, including the tendons, menisci, cartilage, and ligaments.

Treatment Options

This depends on several factors, including age, symptoms, and activity level. To be considered also is the injury’s type, size, and location. Physical Therapy is the recommended treatment option for not just meniscal injuries but all other injures and tears. Following are some of the non-surgical treatment options:

• PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatments work best for chronic ligament and tendonitis sprains/ strains. This therapy uses your own cells to aid and amplify the healing process in joint, cartilage, meniscal, tendons, or muscle conditions. Often PRP is used in adjunct to stem cell regenerative therapy derived from bone marrow or adipose (fat) cells of one’s own body.
• The RICE protocol, which is effective for most sports-related injuries. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
• NSAIDs – Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen help lessen pain and swelling.
• Steroid injection – Injecting corticosteroid medication into your knee joint to help eradicate pain and swelling by your doctor.
• Hyaluronic acid injections can be used for degenerative meniscus damage pain. Your body makes hyaluronic acid. It’s a natural part of the fluid that helps lubricate and cushion your joints and keeps them working smoothly.

Recovery

Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries. With adequate diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, patients often return to their pre-injury days.

I hope you found this article helpful and interesting! We at New York Spine & Sport Rehabilitation Medicine P.C. (NYSSRM) pride ourselves on delivering well-reputed medical services for your well-being. For more information about our offered services, treatment techniques, and our team of medical experts, visit our website or schedule a consultation session at your convenience. Let the leaders in pain management and physical therapy for the Bronx, Westchester, and midtown Manhattan guide you toward a pain-free future.