Meniscus Surgery
The menisci are made of tough cartilage and conform to surfaces of bones upon which they rest. There are two menisci in the knee with each resting between thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). The meniscus present in the inside of knee is called medial meniscus and other meniscus resting on outside of knee is called lateral meniscus.
Meniscus helps in distributing body weight across knee joint and without its presence the weight of is unevenly applied to bones in legs (femur and tibia). Being C-shaped, its wedged profile helps in maintaining stability of joints by keeping rounded femur surface from sliding off flat tibial surface. The distribution of uneven weight causes excessive force in specific body areas that in turn leads to early arthritis of knee joint.
Working of Meniscus
Knee joints are important to allow people to perform daily activities. The joint is made up of three bones:
· Femur (thigh bone)
· Tibia (shin bone)
· Patella (knee cap)
As surfaces of these bones within joint are covered with layer of cartilage, it allows bones to smoothly glide without causing damage to them. Meniscus sits between cartilage surfaces of bones and helps in distributing weight as well as in improving stability of joints.
Meniscus Tear
The common reason for traumatic meniscus tear is when knee joint is bent and knee is twisted. Most common causes of meniscus tear are:
· Traumatic injury (that experienced by athletes)
· Degenerative processes (seen in older patients)
Symptoms
Individuals experiencing meniscus tear experience following primary symptoms:
· Pain and swelling
· Joint locking
Other than these, some of the other common symptoms are:
· Knee pain
· Swelling of knee
· Tenderness when pressing on meniscus
· Popping/clicking within knee
· Limited motion of the knee joint
· Diagnosis of Meniscus Tear
Diagnosis
Any patient suffering from knee pain is evaluated for possible meniscus tear. For this, specific tests are performed by us that include:
· X-rays - For evidence of degenerative/arthritic changes to knee joint
· MRIs - For visualizing meniscus
Treatment
Meniscus tear treatment depends on factors including:
· Type of tear
· Activity level of patient
· Response of patient to simple treatment measures
The surgical treatment done involves trimming torn portion of meniscus (meniscectomy).
The menisci are made of tough cartilage and conform to surfaces of bones upon which they rest. There are two menisci in the knee with each resting between thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). The meniscus present in the inside of knee is called medial meniscus and other meniscus resting on outside of knee is called lateral meniscus.
Meniscus helps in distributing body weight across knee joint and without its presence the weight of is unevenly applied to bones in legs (femur and tibia). Being C-shaped, its wedged profile helps in maintaining stability of joints by keeping rounded femur surface from sliding off flat tibial surface. The distribution of uneven weight causes excessive force in specific body areas that in turn leads to early arthritis of knee joint.
Working of Meniscus
Knee joints are important to allow people to perform daily activities. The joint is made up of three bones:
· Femur (thigh bone)
· Tibia (shin bone)
· Patella (knee cap)
As surfaces of these bones within joint are covered with layer of cartilage, it allows bones to smoothly glide without causing damage to them. Meniscus sits between cartilage surfaces of bones and helps in distributing weight as well as in improving stability of joints.
Meniscus Tear
The common reason for traumatic meniscus tear is when knee joint is bent and knee is twisted. Most common causes of meniscus tear are:
· Traumatic injury (that experienced by athletes)
· Degenerative processes (seen in older patients)
Symptoms
Individuals experiencing meniscus tear experience following primary symptoms:
· Pain and swelling
· Joint locking
Other than these, some of the other common symptoms are:
· Knee pain
· Swelling of knee
· Tenderness when pressing on meniscus
· Popping/clicking within knee
· Limited motion of the knee joint
· Diagnosis of Meniscus Tear
Diagnosis
Any patient suffering from knee pain is evaluated for possible meniscus tear. For this, specific tests are performed by us that include:
· X-rays - For evidence of degenerative/arthritic changes to knee joint
· MRIs - For visualizing meniscus
Treatment
Meniscus tear treatment depends on factors including:
· Type of tear
· Activity level of patient
· Response of patient to simple treatment measures
The surgical treatment done involves trimming torn portion of meniscus (meniscectomy).