Meniscal Tear

Definition
– Meniscus are “C” shaped disks that sit in the knee joint, and act as shock absorbers for the knee. There are 2 separate disks, the medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus. When these disks are injured, the patient will often complain of a clicking or locking sensation in the knee. The patient will feel pain or discomfort when they are in a squat position, or deep flexion of the knee. 



Method Of Injury
– Most commonly the meniscus will be injured through a twisting mechanism with the foot anchored on the ground. Meniscus injuries often occur in association with other ligament injuries such as the MCL, ACL or PCL injuries. Meniscus injuries can also occur from repeated trauma. This occurs in athletes that are in a deep knee flexion position for their sport, for example baseball catchers. 

Treatment
– How meniscus injuries are treated is often determined by the extent, type and location of the tear. Initial treatment should follow the PIER principle (Pressure, Ice, Elevation, Rest). Non-surgical methods of treatment are usually attempted first in most meniscal injuries. This treatment includes doing proper cryotherapy and physiotherapy/athletic therapy treatments. Surgical treatment is often done by removing the torn part of the meniscus and leaving the healthy portion in tack. The surgeon may opt to suture the meniscus if they feel that there is sufficient blood supply to the torn area to properly heal.

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