Meniscus Repair

OVERVIEW

MENISCUS TEARS (TORN CARTILAGE)

A torn meniscus is among the most common knee injuries experienced by athletes. In addition, you don’t have to be an athlete to suffer a torn meniscus—anyone, at any age can injure or tear a meniscus.

Your Meniscus is: Made of two wedge-shaped pieces of tough and rubbery cartilage that act as “shock absorbers” between your thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia).

  • There are several types of Meniscus tears:
    • Bucket handle tear: A complete tear of the meniscus’ inner rim that moves into the center of the knee from the periphery.
    • Flap or “Parrot beak” tear : A flap or “parrot beak” meniscal tear is when the tendon remains connected in one plane, and displaced in the other. On scan images this type of tear is curved like a crescent, hence the name “parrot’s beak” tear.
    • Radial tear: A tear across the meniscal circumference.
  • Sports are the most common cause of meniscus tears, with actions such as twisting the knee or being tackled contributing to injury occurrence.
  • Older patients are vulnerable to degenerative meniscus tears—tears that result from weakened cartilage and general wear over time.

The following symptoms are commonly reported by patients with a torn meniscus:

  • A “pop” sound at the time of injury
  • Pain
  • Stiffness and swelling
  • Catching or locking of your knee
  • The sensation of your knee “giving way”
  • You are not able to move your knee through its full range of motion

Without treatment, a piece of meniscus may come loose and drift into the joint. This can cause your knee to slip, pop, or lock.

Dr. Loiy Alkhatib

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