Knee is the largest joint of the body, and meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries.
If you experience constant pain, stiffness and swelling, catching or locking of your knee, as well as feeling of your knee ‘giving away,’ there is a good chance that you experienced meniscus tear. One of the factors that differentiate meniscus tear from the tear of other ligaments or patella fracture is the ‘pop’ you might feel the moment you hurt the knee. Over time pain might diminish, most people can even walk on the injured knee. Over the period of couple of days the knee becomes more swollen and stiff.
Anyone at any age can tear their meniscus, though the risk of developing a torn meniscus increases with age, since aged, worn tissue is more prone to tears. Those who play contact sports are at greater risk of the injury. Sudden meniscus tears often happen during sports: squatting, jumping and lending, as well as twisting the knee are among the main reasons for the injury.
Great news for some- there are tears that don’t require surgical treatment. Those tears are usually small and located on the outer edge of the meniscus (the outside of meniscus has rich blood supply. Blood and nutrient supply promotes rapid healing of the tears in this area).
The common non-surgical approaches include RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This technique also provides comfort for the patient first hours after they hurt the knee. Drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen can help reduce pain and swelling.
In contrast, if your tear is located on the inner two-thirds of meniscus (lacks blood supply), or if you exhausted nonsurgical treatments, your doctor might suggest arthroscopic surgical approach.
Dr. Kevin Murray, OrthoNorCal orthopedic surgeon specializing in ligament tears:
“The determining factor in favor of the surgical approach is always: does the injury interfere with the things you love and want to do? When the injury starts to deprive you from the activities you perform in your daily life, your hobbies, or sports you love to play- then it’s time,” Dr. Murray said.
Among the other procedures, Dr. Murray is an expert in knee arthroscopy.
Knee arthroscopy is a minimal invasive procedure, during which a small camera is inserted through small incision. This provides a clear view of the inside of the knee, as well as allows your surgeon to repair the tear though other small incisions.
If you experience the symptoms listed above, don’t hesitate to call (408) 412-8100, our specialists will help determine the best treatment approach for you.