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The meniscus is a cartilage cushion between the shinbone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur). It protects and stabilizes the knee joint. Unfortunately, the meniscus can tear with forceful twisting or rotation of the knee and is a very common sports injury.
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the middle of your knee. Cartilage is tough, smooth, rubbery tissue that lines and cushions the surface of the joints. You have a meniscus on the inner side of your knee (the medial meniscus) and a meniscus on the outer side of the knee (the lateral meniscus). Each meniscus attaches to the top of the shinbone (tibia), makes contact with thethighbone (femur), and acts as a shock absorber during weight-bearing activities. If a meniscus tears, it can cause knee pain and can limit motion.
A meniscal tear can occur when the knee is forcefully twisted or sometimes with minimal or no trauma, such as when you are squatting.
Symptoms may include the following:
A chronic (old) meniscal tear may give you pain on and off during activities, with or without swelling. Your knee may sometimes lock, and you may have stiffness in the knee.
How is it diagnosed?Your health care provider will review your symptoms and how the injury occurred. He or she will ask about your medical history and examine your knee. Your provider will move your knee in severalways that may cause pain along the injured meniscal surface. You may have x-rays to see if the bones in your knee are injured, but a meniscal tear will not show on an x-ray. An MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging) can help diagnose a meniscal tear.
Treatment may include:
While you are recovering from your injury, you will need to change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, you may need to swim instead of run. Arthroscopic surgery is needed to repair or remove large torn pieces of cartilage. The surgery usually takes about an hour. An arthroscope is a tube with a light on the end that projects an image of the inside of your knee onto a TV screen. By putting tools through the end of the arthroscope, thedoctor can usually repair or remove the damaged meniscus. Because the meniscus is a valuable shock absorber, the doctor will leave as much of the healthy portion of the meniscus as possible during surgery.
You will go home the day of the surgery. You should keep your leg elevated. Take it easy for at least the next 2 to 3 days. Do not take part in strenuous activities until your health care provider feels you are ready.
If you have a small tear that has not been repaired or removed, you may still be able to function well and be active. However, your knee may sometimes swell, lock, be stiff, or hurt during activitiesIf you have surgery, you will need to spend time rehabilitating your knee. Everyone recovers at a different rate, depending on the severity of the injury and their general health. Many people return to their previous level of activity within a month or so after surgery.
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your sport or activity will be determined by how soon your knee recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.
You may safely return to your sport or activity when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:
If you feel that your knee is giving way or if you develop pain or have swelling in your knee, you should see your provider.
Unfortunately, most injuries to knee cartilage occur during accidents that are not preventable. However, you may be able to avoid these injuries by:
When skiing, be sure that your ski bindings are set correctly by a trained professional so thatyour skis will release when you fall.
Knowing When to Seek Care for Your Child: A Guide from LuskinOIC
As a parent, your top priority is keeping your child safe and healthy. But when your child is sick or injured, it can be hard to know what level of care they need. Should you call your pediatrician, visit urgent care, or head straight to the emergency department?
For non-emergencies, your child’s pediatrician or a pediatric urgent care center is often the best place to start. If your child’s doctor isn’t available—such as during evenings or weekends—urgent care can provide fast, effective treatment. Contact your pediatrician or visit urgent care if your child has:
You may also have access to virtual urgent care for non-emergency issues, allowing your child to be seen by a provider from home. Check if pediatric virtual urgent care services are available in your area.
If your child is seriously injured or ill—especially if the condition may be life-threatening or needs immediate attention—take them to the emergency department (ED). Seek emergency care if your child:
Your child’s health matters. When in doubt, trust your instincts—and don’t hesitate to seek care. LuskinOIC is here to support your family with trusted pediatric expertise every step of the way.