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The knee joint has two menisci that function as important shock absorbers to the knee:
- Medial meniscus - on the inside of the knee
- Lateral meniscus - on the outside of the knee
The meniscus lies between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shinbone) to help maintain balance and stability. Without the meniscus, an uneven weight distribution would occur leading to overload of the cartilage surfaces. Typically, a torn meniscus is caused by twisting or turning quickly, often with the foot planted while the knee is bent.
Symptoms of a Meniscus injury
- A lack of being able to straighten one’s knee out with a bucket handle tear
- Stiffness and swelling
- Catching or locking of the knee
- Limited range of motion
- Difficulty putting weight on knee because of pain
Types of Meniscus Tears
- Medial Meniscus Tear
- Lateral Meniscus Tear
- Discoid Meniscus
- Meniscal Root Tears
- Posterior Horn of the Medial Meniscus
- Posterior Horn of the Lateral Meniscus
Meniscus Surgery
Treatment method will depend on the size, location, and type of tear. The outside one-third of the meniscus has a rich blood supply, known as the “red zone”, small tears in this area can heal on their own. The inner two-thirds of the meniscus has a lack of blood supply, known as the “white zone”. This portion of the meniscus cannot heal on its own.
Dr. Satvir’s aim is to preserve the meniscus where ever possible and do a primary arthroscopic repair of the meniscus tear.in cases where the meniscus is irreparable, we try to preserve as much of the meniscus possible and very carefully trim that part and balance the rest of meniscus, so that it doesn’t bother the patient in future.
For repair of the meniscus we use inside out, outside in and all inside techniques depending on the type and position of the tear.
In our practice we have seen that the long-term results of meniscus repair are very good.
Post-Operative Protocol
A well guided physical therapy protocol is essential to maximize outcomes after a meniscus surgery repair. Post operation rehab in meniscus repair cases is a bit guarded. Patient is kept in a knee brace for 6 weeks and is kept non weight bearing on the affected limb for the same period. Knee bending is started at 3 weeks and patient is kept on static exercises for the first 3 weeks. Gradual weight bearing and static cycling is start at 6 weeks. Return to sports takes around 6-9 months.
If left untreated?
Meniscus tear can lead to constant friction within the joint while walking and lead to cartilage damage and early osteoarthritis.