Medial And Lateral Meniscus Tears

Medial And Lateral Meniscus Tears

by Dr. Shailendra Patil

Posted on 12th May, 2023 at 6:58:56 AM


The meniscus root plays an essential role in maintaining the circumferential hoop tension and preventing meniscal displacement. The knee surgeon in Mumbai suggests some important facts related to medial and lateral meniscus tears which are stated below:

The medial meniscus is on the inner side of the knee joint. 

The lateral meniscus is on the outside of the knee.

A medial meniscus tear is more common than a lateral meniscus tear because it is firmly attached to the deep medial collateral ligament and the joint capsule. In addition, the medial meniscus absorbs up to 50% of the shock of the medial compartment, making the medial meniscus susceptible to injury.

Symptoms:

In sports, a meniscus tear usually happens suddenly. Here are a few of the symptoms that can be noted.

  • Pain
  • Swelling and stiffness increase gradually over 2 to 3 days
  • Catching or locking
  • Instability

A complex tear of the medial meniscus includes a combination of any of the patterns listed above. In many circumstances in patients with these tears, the meniscus needs to be trimmed out. However, this does increase the risk of osteoarthritis, especially in patients who continue to participate in impact activities.

Diagnostic:

An examination of the knee and possible arthroscopy provides a clear classification of meniscus injuries. The size and severity of the meniscus tear or rupture are often indicative of recovery after surgery and for eventual later degenerative phenomena in the knee joint.

When we speak about a meniscus tear, we must specify what type of injuries we are dealing with. The examination of the knee and any arthroscopy provides a clear classification of meniscal lesions. The extent and severity of the meniscus tear are often indicative of the recovery after the procedure and of any subsequent degenerative symptoms in the knee joint. The classification of meniscal tears can be done according to anatomic abnormality. There are different kinds of tears in the meniscus including Tear length, tear depth, and tear pattern. We will discuss the different injuries below.

Tear length – injuries of the meniscus that only occur on the surface of our meniscus.

Tear depth – a complete meniscal tear describes a tear that runs through both superior and inferior surfaces, whereas a partial tear comprises only one surface. Longitudinal injuries are often full cracks; this means that the full thickness of the meniscus is affected. Frequently, when we support our body weight the pressure on the meniscus with the femur will push the crack open.

The tear pattern included seven different lesions of the meniscus.

Treatment:

If your MRI indicates a Grade 1 or 2 tears, but your symptoms and physical exam are inconsistent with a tear, surgery may not be needed.

Grade 3 meniscus tears usually require surgery, which may include Arthroscopy. Arthroscopy is a small surgery. They look through a thin tube into the knee joint performed by an ACL surgery specialist doctor in Thane. The procedure can be performed to obtain information on the knee joint. In many cases, there can during arthroscopy immediate treatment be given. It’s possible that a larger operation is necessary.

Not all meniscal lesions require surgery, conservative treatment is another option. In the treatment regimen, we recognize conservative means, arthroscopic resection, or a meniscal suture. Physiotherapy is one example of conservative treatment; it focuses on strengthening of the quadriceps muscle to prevent secondary quadriceps atrophy. This treatment is most successful with an incomplete tear or a small stable tear in the zone with blood supply. Also, check our blog for ACL reconstruction: choices are age-dependent.

A meniscus tear can occur when the knee is suddenly twisted while the foot is planted on the ground. A tear can also develop slowly as the meniscus loses resiliency. In this case, a portion may break off, leaving frayed edges. Depending on the severity of the injury, surgical repair may or may not be needed. 

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