The knee joints are vital to your ability to walk, run, jump, and sit — without healthy knee joints, these activities are nearly impossible. Part of the reason you can achieve these activities is the rubbery cartilage in the knee joint called the meniscus.
You have two pieces of meniscus in each knee, one on either side of the junction where the femur and tibia meet. These rubbery, flexible pieces of cartilage protect the joint by absorbing shocks and providing cushioning.
However, extreme activity and conditions like arthritis can damage the menisci, causing acute injuries and chronic tears. Don’t ignore or delay treatment for a meniscus tear — it could lead to movement or knee joint function issues.
If you've suffered a knee injury and need fast and efficient care, Dr. Omar Osmani and our Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico team can help. Our Roswell, New Mexico office includes a state-of-the-art urgent care facility for meniscus injuries and other knee and joint issues.
The knee is a hinge joint that contains various tendons, ligaments, and cartilage that allow it to stabilize and move. The femur and the tibia come together to form the knee joint, and between these bones are two pieces of rubbery cartilage called menisci.
The menisci are in each knee, on either side of the joint. They are thick and act like shock absorbers, protecting the knee joint's other aspects.
Menisci are also essential for knee stability, transferring weight from the femur to the tibia. They prevent the bones from rubbing together, causing pain and long-term damage.
Unfortunately, the menisci are highly susceptible to injury, especially in active people who play sports.
One of the most common injuries to the menisci is tears on either the medial or lateral side of the knee. A medial meniscus tear occurs on the inside portion of the knee, while a lateral tear occurs on the outer aspect of the joint.
Acute meniscus tears often happen during sports, especially those that require quick direction changes and pivoting. If you're an athlete with knee pain, the following symptoms could indicate a meniscus tear:
Younger athletes may feel something immediately with a meniscus tear but may play through the pain. However, symptoms often worsen over the next few days as the body tries to protect the injured joint.
If you've suffered a knee injury and have symptoms of a meniscus tear, it's essential to come to our urgent care right away for treatment. We can quickly evaluate the knee and order imaging studies to examine the menisci and other parts of the joint.
An MRI is the best test to evaluate for a meniscus tear. If you have a meniscus tear, prompt treatment is necessary to avoid complications.
Without early treatment for a meniscus tear, you risk further damaging the meniscus and knee joint. One of the significant complications of a meniscus tear is that it does not heal correctly, which can lead to chronic instability in the knee joint.
Chronic instability puts you at risk for other knee injuries, including ACL tears and other ligament injuries. Arthritis is another complication of an untreated torn meniscus that happens over time from the bones rubbing together.
Our treatment for a torn meniscus depends on several factors, including age, activity level, and joint damage. Very few meniscus tears heal on their own unless they happen in the outer third of the cartilage, which has a good blood supply.
Other meniscus tears on the inner portion of the cartilage are unlikely to heal without surgery because of the lack of circulation. These often require a surgical procedure called an arthroscopy.
A knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure Dr. Osmani uses to look inside your knee joint and repair or cut out a damaged meniscus. During the procedure, he uses an arthroscope, a long, thin tube with a light and camera attached.
Most people return to normal activities after a meniscus repair, but it may take three to six months of rehabilitation. If we cut out the damaged part of the meniscus, you can typically recover in three to six weeks.
Call the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico today to schedule a meniscus tear consultation, or you may request one on our website.
