Meniscus Tear Treatment
Meniscus tears are common sports injuries involving meniscus cartilage—the shock absorber in your knee joint. Meniscal tears occur due to sudden twisting, impact, overuse, and degeneration. Conservative treatments are often the first step of care, but surgery may be necessary.
Your meniscus plays a key role in knee shock absorption and load transmission, sitting between the two longest bones in the body—the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia).
Meniscus Tear Causes
Meniscus tears can occur because of a traumatic injury—sudden or forceful twisting as well as direct blows to the knee. This type of meniscus tear may also involve injuries to other parts of the knee, like the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or other knee ligaments. Traumatic tears occur more often in young athletes participating in sports like soccer, basketball, football, tennis, skiing, volleyball, lacrosse, and other activities that involve pivoting, sudden stops, or direct impact.
Meniscus tears in middle-aged adults and elderly individuals are often due to overuse or degeneration associated with aging and osteoarthritis.
What are the symptoms of a meniscus tear?
Meniscus injuries are a common source of knee pain. They can cause a range of symptoms depending on the cause and severity of the tear. Common symptoms include:
Pain along the joint line of the knee
Stiffness (difficulty straightening and bending)
Swelling
Catching or locking sensation
Popping sensation
Difficulty squatting or kneeling
What risk factors make me more likely to tear my meniscus?
Age (more prone to degeneration over 40)
Sports and physical activities involving pivots, stops, and contact
Occupational activities involving squatting, kneeling, lifting, and climbing
Previous knee injuries (previous ACL, meniscus tears)
Improper form and weakness
Obesity
Lack of flexibility and poor conditioning
Meniscus Tear Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a meniscus tear involves a physical examination and patient history. You can expect Dr. Money to ask questions about the history of your injury, how it occurred, symptoms you’ve experienced—pain, stiffness, catching, and locking—as well as previous knee injuries.
MRI or X-ray imaging will indicate the severity of the tear and if there are injuries to other knee areas, such as the ACL, lateral collateral ligament (LCL), or posterior collateral ligament (PCL).
Meniscus Tear Treatment
The treatment of meniscus tears depends on the type, size, and location of the injury as well as the patient’s age, overall health, and goals. Just because you have a meniscal tear does not mean that you need surgery.
Non-Surgical Meniscus Treatment
In most cases, Dr. Money recommends conservative meniscus treatment as a first step for patients with meniscal injuries. Conservative treatment options include rest, ice, compress, elevation (RICE); anti-inflammatories; cortisone shots; physical therapy; and bracing.
If pain and mechanical issues do not resolve after non-surgical treatments, surgery may be the best option for you.
Surgical Treatment of Meniscal Tears
Meniscus surgery involves small incisions and is performed with an arthroscope, a small, tube-like camera the size of a pencil. The surgery varies based on the type of meniscus injury. Below are the most common procedures:
Partial meniscectomy—small shavers or scissors remove the damaged portion of the meniscus
Meniscus repair—torn meniscus is stitched or sutured to promote healing
Meniscus replacement—damaged cartilage is replaced with a donor meniscus or synthetic meniscus
Meniscus Repair Recovery Time
The recovery time for different meniscal surgeries depends on the procedure and the patient’s age, overall health, and physical therapy compliance.
Partial meniscectomy—patients typically return to light activities within 1-2 weeks and resume normal activities within 4-6 weeks. Full recovery may take up to 3 months.
Meniscus repair—patients typically use crutches for the first 3 weeks and return to full activity within 4-6 months. Full recovery may take up to 9 months, particularly for high-impact sports.
Meniscus replacement—patients typically use crutches for the first 3 weeks and return to full activity within 6-12 months.
Supporting Your Recovery
As a former collegiate athlete, Dr. Money understands that recovery from meniscal surgery is challenging for athletes and active adults—which is why he recommends conservative, non-surgical treatments whenever possible. Optimize your knee injury recovery and return to being active with care from Dr. Money.
Schedule a Meniscus Exam
Concerned about a meniscus tear? Schedule a visit with Dr. Money at Rothman Orthopeadics Winter Garden, serving Clermont, Ocoee, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, and the greater Orlando area.
FAQs
Where is the meniscus?
Knee Joint
What does the meniscus do?
The meniscus cushions, stabilizes, lubricates, and protects the knee joint. Its role is important for high-impact, weight-bearing activities like running and jumping.
Can you walk with a torn meniscus?
Yes, you can typically walk with a torn meniscus, but pain, swelling, or stiffness may limit you, especially if you have a severe tear. It is important to consult with an orthopaedic surgeon because walking with a torn meniscus can cause further damage to your knee.
Can a torn meniscus heal itself?
It depends on the location and severity of the tear. Tears to the outer zones of the meniscus (areas with good blood supply) and small, stable tears may heal through conservative treatment. Severe tears and tears to the inner zones of the meniscus (areas with little blood supply) typically require surgical intervention.
How can you heal a torn meniscus naturally?
Yes, conservative, non-surgical treatments are often very effective for meniscus tears, specifically small tears or tears to the outer portion of the meniscus. A natural, conservative treatment plan typically includes rest, ice, physical therapy, and bracing.
How do you know if you tore your meniscus or ACL?
Distinguishing between a torn meniscus and ACL can be challenging because they both cause pain, swelling, and instability in the knee joint. Distinctive signs of meniscus tears are locking or catching in the knee, while with an ACL tear, you may hear a “pop” during the injury or feel your knee give out when walking or changing direction. An orthopaedic surgeon can use specific physical tests and an MRI to diagnose your knee injury.
Who can diagnose a meniscus tear?
A meniscus diagnosis and surgical repair fall within the medical purview of an orthopaedic surgeon with a sports medicine sub-specialty. Sports medicine non-operative physicians and physical therapists often work with athletes and can also provide initial assessments and referrals for surgical treatment.