Meniscus Tears: The facts from a top Myrtle Beach surgeon
One of the most common causes of knee pain has nothing to do with your bones and everything to do with the cartilage around your knees. According to Dr. Brad Dosher with CMC Orthopeadics, meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries and they can happen at any age.
Your knee joint is made up of three bones: the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and patella (kneecap). The meniscus is a type of specialized cartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee, which helps protect the cartilage on the end of the bones.
“There are actually two menisci in the knee, one on the outside of the knee called the lateral and one on the inside called the medial,” outlined Dr. Dosher. “The meniscus functions as a cushion in the knee and it protects the surfaces of the joint and provides stability along with the ligaments in the knee.”
People who are most likely to experience meniscus tears are those who play contact sports or sports that require frequent sudden movements, like tennis or soccer, or that require a lot of squatting, like baseball, but can happen during almost any sport or activity.
“Many things can cause a tear of the meniscus,” outlined Dr. Dosher. “Injuries from twisting the knee, deep squatting, or a fall can all lead to a meniscus tear. However, repetitive daily use and activity can also lead to a meniscus tear even without a specific injury. Older adults can get meniscus tears simply because of the normal wear-and-tear caused by aging.”
What are the symptoms?
“Symptoms of a meniscus tear include pain on the inside (medial) or outside (lateral) of the joint, clicking, locking, or sharp pain with pivoting on the knee,” listed Dr. Dosher. “There can also be swelling and decreased movement in the knee.”
Most people report the following symptoms:
- Hearing and feeling a “pop” in the knee when the tear occurs.
- Stiffness and swelling. It can take a few days for this to develop and worsen.
- Difficulty straightening the leg
- Locked knee
If you continue in your activity or sport and don’t seek treatment, your knee pain will likely only grow worse. If you experience significant pain and swelling, you should see a doctor.
“Some meniscus tears can cause an increase in cartilage contact pressure in the knee and can lead to future cartilage problems if it’s not addressed appropriately,” urged Dr. Dosher. “In many cases, it can also be associated with other injuries. Meniscal tears are very common with ligament injuries and because of that, it’s very important to make sure that the entire knee is being assessed.”
Diagnosis is best discovered by getting a physical examination, X-ray, and MRI if indicated.
“During a physical exam for a meniscus tear, I’ll look for tenderness at a specific location along the knee joint line,” said Dr. Dosher. “Additionally, I’ll look for the presence of fluid and swelling within the joint and also limitations in the range of motion of the knee. We can do a specific test called a McMurray’s test, which helps diagnose the presence of a meniscus tear. X-rays allow us to rule out other more serious injuries and MRI’s then help us determine the extent of the tear and also if there’s other damage to the knee or surrounding ligaments.“
How do you treat a meniscus tear?
Non-surgical treatments
Once torn, menisci tears often do not heal themselves, with some rare exceptions.
“Once it tears, that tear will likely remain,” explained Dr. Dosher “However, a tear can go from being painful to relatively non-painful. If a small tear is not causing problems and the patient is pain-free, there is no reason to treat it in most instances. That being said, symptoms of a meniscus tear can come and go. Sometimes the tear can become irritated or reinjured and cause pain, whereas other times it may be just fine.”
But people can often ease pain and swelling with the R.I.C.E. method:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
Many times, if the tear is not too significant, you may be able to resume normal activities after the swelling and pain die down.
“Long-term, you may have to modify your activities,” stated Dr. Dosher. “However, strengthening the muscles around the knee is important because that will often help alleviate symptoms and return the knee to its prior level of function.”
Other treatment options include:
- Physical therapy exercises. An organized treatment plan overseen by professional therapists to safely strengthen the muscles around the knee joint.
- Cortisone injections. These can reduce swelling and discomfort.
Dr. Dosher stressed that you shouldn’t ignore a tear or let it go untreated, and that any continued knee pain/swelling should be evaluated by a medical professional.
Over time, an untreated meniscus tear can lead to knee arthritis, a chronic, degenerative problem that can cause a lot of pain and interfere with many of your usual activities. There is also the risk of fragmentation, or breaking off of parts of the meniscus.
“When you have a meniscus tear and you continue to use your knee for bending, flexing, and all sorts of activities, there’s a much higher chance that the meniscus or even the cartilage layer can become injured,” cautioned Dr. Dosher.
Surgical Options
Depending on how big the tear is, where the tear occurred, and how much pain a person is in from the tear, surgery may be the best option.
“For acute tears, particularly in younger individuals, treatment is usually surgical,” said Dr. Dosher. “Meniscus repair surgeries are typically done arthroscopically. During a meniscus repair surgery, I’ll make very small cuts in the knee and then use a scope to go in and stitch the tear.” Some tears are in areas that do not have good healing potential, while other tears may have patterns not amenable to repair – in these instances a portion of the meniscus may have to be removed. “The goal of surgery is always to repair and save as much viable meniscus as possible” Dr. Dosher states.
If you suspect that you have a meniscus tear, then you should see an orthopedic surgeon for further evaluation.
Meniscus Tear Treatment in Conway and Myrtle Beach, SC
Dr. Brad Dosher is experienced in treating athletes and injuries of the knee, specializing in advanced treatments for the meniscus and ACL. If you think you may have a torn meniscus or you’re struggling with knee pain during certain activities, CMC Orthopaedics is here to help. Our surgeons perform meniscus repairs through non-surgical and surgical treatments. Together, we can determine which treatment options are best for your knee, and make sure you are guided throughout the process of treatment and rehabilitation.
To schedule an appointment at CMC Orthopaedics, call our office today at 843-347-8041, or use our convenient online appointment request form.
Dr. W. Brad Dosher
Fellowship trained in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Vanderbilt University
Dr. W. Brad Dosher is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. Born and raised in Amarillo Texas, Dr. Dosher graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. He received his MD from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at the UT Health Science Center at Houston. During his residency, Dr. Dosher trained at the busiest trauma center in the nation and worked with the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, and University of Houston Athletics. Dr. Dosher completed his Sports Medicine and Shoulder Fellowship at Vanderbilt University.
