In each knee there are two C-shaped pieces of cartilage, or menisci, that act as a cushion between the shinbone and the thigh bone. Activities that forcefully twist or rotate the knee while putting weight on it can tear this cartilage.
What are the signs and symptoms of Meniscal Tears?
- Hearing a “pop” or feeling a popping sensation at the time of injury
- Knee swelling or stiffness
- Difficulty straightening the knee fully, or feeling as if the knee is locked into place
- Pain when twisting or rotating the knee
What causes Meniscal Tears?
- Twisting injuries to the knee
- A direct hit to the knee or a collision
How is Meniscal Tears treated?
In adolescent and young adult patients, meniscus tears are often treated with surgery. Sometimes it may be possible to treat with rest and physical therapy, but it depends on the type of tear and the amount of discomfort it is causing.
Here at Connecticut Children’s, we use the latest techniques to do meniscus repair as often as we can to try to restore normal anatomy. We typically use suture to repair meniscus tears. Sometimes if there is a very bad tear that cannot be repaired and a young patient loses most or all of their meniscus, we also offer meniscus allograft transplants, a surgery where we replace a missing meniscus with a donated one.