A torn meniscus is one of the most common causes of knee pain. A torn meniscus, which is the cartilage that lines the knee, can be treated with rice, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Symptoms include pain on the inside of the knee which. In fact, a meniscal tear is one of the most frequently occurring cartilage injuries. Yes, there are exceptions, but for purposes of this post, they dont. In this procedure, the torn meniscus is sewn back together using small, often dissolvable stitches. Limit activities to include walking if the knee painful. Yes most meniscal tears are degenerative and will not require surgery.
Work with your doctor to plan a rehabilitation rehab program that helps you regain as much. If you have any questions, please speak to your physiotherapist. That doesnt mean that every patient with a meniscus tear needs surgery. In the case of meniscus tears, some people think the injury will heal over time on its own.
Like a lot of knee injuries, a meniscus tear can be painful and debilitating. Often times these tears can be diagnosed by taking a thorough history and completing a physical examination. Jul 18, 2014 treatment options for meniscal tears fall into three broad categories. Chiropractic management of a medial meniscus tear in a. Currently, there are three main methods of modern surgical management of meniscus tears. Clearly, the meniscus does play an important role in the human knee, but once torn and unable to be repaired, many of the beneficial effects of that structure are lost. An untreated meniscus tear can deteriorate and may come loose within the knee joint. The medial meniscus is semicircular in shape and the lateral meniscus is almost a. The success of meniscus repair depends on tear pattern recognition and location for the capacity to heal. For most tears, some simple exercises can help maintain muscle strength in the front of the thigh quadriceps, back of the thigh hamstr. Fogoros, md, is a retired professor of medicine and boardcertified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. But the truth is that there are different types of meniscus tears and some tears wont heal without treatment. As the meniscus blends with the synovial lining of the joint capsule, a meniscal tear injury will apply a mechanical traction on the peripheral aspect, potentially producing inflammation of the synovial lining or a mechanical locking.
Selecting the most appropriate treatment for a given patient involves both. There is evidence suggesting that degenerative tears in older. Apply ice or a cold pack to your knee for 15 to 20minute sessions, several times a day. Other factors which influence treatment include age, activity level and related injuries. Be sure to rotate your leg outward laterally slightly to gain a better activation of the medial inner side of the. Rehabilitation guidelines for meniscal repair uw health. Athletes, particularly those who play contact sports, are at risk for meniscus tears. It is just as important to understand that many meniscus tears do not require surgery. Jul 30, 2018 a bucket handle tear is a type of meniscus tear that affects your knee. Torn meniscus meniscus tear treatment options duke health. The meniscus is a special thick layer of cartilage that lines the. The treatment chosen will depend on the location of the tear, the athletes sport, ligamentous stability of the.
Not every torn meniscus is the same, and not every meniscus tear requires the same type of treatment. It is important to know the difference between these two types of injuries, because the way we treat them is different. Pdf treatment options for meniscal tears fall into three broad categories. Physical therapy for a knee meniscus tear verywell health. For example, after a highvelocity sports injury, you might feel a pop and some pain. More severe tears of the meniscus often require surgery. For example, the outer third of the meniscus has a richer blood supply than the interior tissue, and injuries there will heal faster as the blood brings healing nutrients to the injured tissue. Meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries. Treatment for meniscal tears depends on the size and location of the tear. Physical therapy pt and exercises for a meniscus tear rehab. If an athlete suffers a meniscal root tear, the three options for treatment. A sudden strong force that usually involves a rotation movement of the knee can tear a meniscus. This booklet gives information on the different types of meniscus problems, the evidencebased management options, and how physiotherapy can help.
The meniscus can tear anterior to posterior, radially, or can have a bucket handle appearance. This treatment may be the best option for minor tears in the meniscus. The purpose of the esska european society for sports traumatology, knee surgery and arthroscopy european consensus on traumatic meniscus tears was to provide recommendations for the treatment of meniscus tears based on both scientific. Meniscus rehab exercises the physical therapy advisor. Nov 15, 2019 the meniscus is a cshaped piece of tough, rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone. What are the treatment options for a degenerative meniscus.
Some meniscal tears can heal without surgical intervention. Compress your knee with a brace or knee sleeve to prevent additional swelling. Meniscus tears johns hopkins all childrens hospital. Meniscus tears do not heal, and over a period of time your knee joint will grind out the tear. If a tear is causing pain and impaired function, removal of that tear is the treatment of choice. Find out when it helps, what to expect, and how long youll need to do it for. It can be torn if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it. Symptoms of an acute meniscus tear include swelling, pain along the joint line, catching, locking and a specific injury. The symptoms of a meniscus tear depend on the severity of the injury and your age. There have been multiple studies that have demonstrated the clinical success of meniscal repair. Apr 25, 2019 yes, some meniscus tears can heal on their own. Do it for 1520 minutes every 34 hours for 23 days or until the pain and swelling is gone. A meniscus tear is often caused by a single acute injurysuch as a sudden twist or quick turn during sports activity. If your tear is on the outer onethird of the meniscus, it.
The most appropriate treatment for a young athlete with a meniscus tear depends on location, size, and pattern of the tear. The severity and location of the tear will be vital factors in determining a treatment regimen. Meniscus tear treatment options knee pain explained. Torn meniscus surgery advanced regenerative orthopedics. An mri may be used to assist in making the diagnosis. Rehabilitation guidelines for meniscal repair of root and. Meniscus tear treatment aims to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with a knee cartilage tear as well as restore strength, flexibility and function. However, it may also occur in older athletes through gradual degeneration. A medial meniscus tear on the inside of the knee is more common. Meniscal tears that cause continued pain, locking, or instability of the knee are often treated with arthroscopic surgery. In many cases, a surgical procedure called arthroscopy is used to repair or remove a torn meniscus. Be sure to rotate your leg outward laterally slightly to gain a better activation of the medial inner side of the quadriceps. If you have knee pain due to a meniscus tear, you may. A torn meniscus is one of the most common knee injuries.
Your physiotherapist has diagnosed you with a degenerative meniscal tear. An example of this is when a footballers foot remains planted in the ground while he then forcefully turns around. The aim of phase 3 of a meniscus tear rehabilitation program is to ensure full range of movement in the knee, regain normal strength with the ability to perform a full squat and start to return to running and normal training. Some of these factors include the age of the patient, results of nonsurgical treatment, and if there is another damage than just a torn meniscus. Put this antiinflammatory cream on your knee to reduce swelling and inflammation and thus your pain. The first steps in treatment after the acute injury usually include rest, ice, compression, and elevation rice. Still, many athletes keep playing after a meniscus tear if no other damage has been done to the knee. A bucket handle tear is a type of meniscus tear that affects your knee. May be recommended in young patients depending on the type of meniscus tear. Selecting the most appropriate treatment for a given patient involves both patient factors e. This may be an option if the entire meniscus is torn and has to be removed. Racgp meniscal tear presentation, diagnosis and management.
The importance of meniscus integrity in the prevention of early osteoarthritis is well known, and preservation is accepted as the primary goal. The purpose of the esska european society for sports traumatology, knee surgery and arthroscopy european consensus on traumatic meniscus tears was to provide recommendations for the treatment of meniscus tears based on both scientific evidence and. Pdf modern treatment of meniscal tears researchgate. Nov 25, 2019 not every torn meniscus is the same, and not every meniscus tear requires the same type of treatment. Torn meniscus surgery meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries, caused by forcefully twisting or rotating your knee while putting pressure on it.
First of all, it is true that meniscus tears generally do not heal by themselves. Sports injury medicine department 9250 sw hall blvd. The treatment chosen will depend on the location of the tear, the athletes sport, ligamentous stability of the knee and any associated injury. It is caused by direct impact in contact sports or twisting. Give your knee rest and support by applying ice every 2 hours and wear this knee brace. In some cases, cortisone injection can also be helpful to resolve the pain and swelling. With proper physical therapy and care, most people heal well and return to their desired sports and activities. Rehabilitation exercises a meniscus tear is a common knee joint injury. This may be helpful in easing the inflammation that occurs with a torn meniscus. The meniscus is the cartilage that acts as a cushion between your shinbone and thighbone, and though nonsurgical therapies may be of some benefit, many require meniscus surgery. There are 2 main reasons why you may tear a meniscus.
The meniscus is a cshaped piece of cartilage in the knee that cushions and acts as a shock absorber between your thigh bone femur and shin bone tibia. It will reduce the pressure on your knee and meniscus for immediate relief and prevents sudden twitches of your knee. You have both an inner medial and outer lateral meniscus that help distribute the forces in the knee when you are weightbearing. Physical therapy pt can be useful for a torn meniscus whether or not you have surgery. Acute traumatic injuries of normal meniscal substance usually produce longitudinal or transverse tears, although the morphology of tears can be quite complex5. Some people with meniscus tears will respond to conservative treatment, including rest, medications, and physical therapy. Moreover, meniscus tears are very common, so try not to get discouraged if you injure yours. Meniscus tear treatment with 4 exercises to avoid surgery. Nonoperative treatment of degenerative posterior root tear of the medial meniscus. Depending on the particular tear, a patients age and overall health, and. The medical history of the patient, the individuals. Meniscus tear treatment king brand company home page. Aug 09, 2019 a torn meniscus is a tear of one of the semicircular cartilage discs in the knee joint. Meniscus tears symptoms and treatment orthoinfo aaos.
Untreated meniscus tears can also increase in tear size and extend the damaged area of the meniscus. Any activity that causes you to forcefully twist or rotate your knee, especially when. A variety of factors are used to determine the ideal treatment of a meniscus tear. How well the knee will heal and whether surgery will be needed depends in large part on the type of tear see figure in appendix and how bad the tear is. Acute, traumatic tears in the young patient and atraumatic, degenerative tears in the. According to the journal arthroscopy techniques, an estimated 10 percent of all meniscal tears are bucket handle tears. Treatment options for meniscal tears fall into three broad categories. Antiinflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen advil, motrin or naproxen, may help relieve pain and inflammation.
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