Meniscus Tear of the Knee

Does you knee hurt, pop, lock up or "catch"?
Is it swollen at the end of the day?
Do you have limitations when you try to completely bend or straighten out your knee?
If you have answered yes to any of the above, you may have torn the meniscus (some people call it "cartilage") in your knee.

Often times the knee meniscus is torn when you twist your knee the wrong way. But sometimes the meniscus can be torn with time, age, wear and tear. Treatment options include ice, anti-inflammatory medications (like advil, alleve) and exercises to regain strength and motion.
If things are not better in a few weeks and orthopedic surgery consultation may be necessary.
In my sports clinic, I will examine the knee, obtain x-rays and based on your complaints diagnose your problem.

Other problems that can cause similar pain are

1. Arthritis
2. Torn ligaments
3. Loose fragments of bone or cartilage
4. Inflamed knee tissue (synovitis).

If you have all of the classic signs of torn cartilage, and things have not improved with conservative treatment, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery...more on that in a minute.
If the doctor is not sure about the diagnosis and MRI scan can be very accurate at determining whether or not you have torn cartilage in your knee.
If you have a torn meniscus that affects your knee function arthroscopic surgery usually relieves your symptoms.

ARTHROSCOPY

This is a surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to look inside the knee using very small incisions to repair or remove torn cartilage in the knee. Through three small incisions (about 3-4 millimeters each) a small camera is inserted in the knee. This camera is attached to a video monitor and the doctor can look inside the knee. The second and 3rd incisions are used to insert small instrument used to repair or shave the torn cartilage (See the arthroscopic photos above). Surgery to shave or remove torn cartilage takes about 30 minutes.  Some patients that require meniscus repair may need the knee opened through a 3 inch incision on the inner or outer knee.  I usually perform the surgery at Valley Surgery Center in Modesto, a local outpatient surgery center where patients are in and out the same day.
After surgery, take it easy. Use ice, and elevate your leg. Several days later the large surgical bandages are replaced with smaller ones. Exercises to move the knee are often started right away. Crutches are used for the first few days, but most people are off of crutches after 4-5 days. When the meniscus is repaired or sewn crutches are required for four weeks. Pain medication is often necessary for a week or two. For you work-a-holics you can return to "light duty” in about 4-5 days.
Some people need physical therapy. I usually wait to make this determination on a case by case basis. Full movement is obtained by 4 weeks, and normal activities (sports) can be resumed by 8 weeks in most people.
Surgical risks of routine arthroscopy are minimal but include bleeding, infection, persistent swelling. For the majority of people the benefits outweigh the risks. Removal of the torn cartilage often allows individuals to return to the sports and activities that they enjoy.