What is a torn meniscus?
A torn meniscus is an injury to your knee's cartilage, specifically, the C-shaped meniscus that serves as a shock absorber between the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone).
When you walk or run, the meniscus transfers stress from bone to bone and helps stabilize your knee. A tear in the meniscus may happen due to an injury from playing sports or from natural wear and tear of the tissue that occurs with age. If the meniscus tears, you may develop pain, swelling and feelings of instability.
Anatomy of a knee
The knee is a complex joint consisting of three bones, including the femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone) and patella (kneecap). Four ligaments connect the femur and tibia. The meniscus is two C-shaped cartilage discs that act as a cushion and shock absorber between the femur and tibia, providing stability to the knee. Unfortunately, as the meniscus does not have a strong blood supply and is not a regenerative structure, if you experience a torn meniscus, it is unlikely to heal on its own and will not regrow over time.
Torn meniscus symptoms
Most symptoms will likely develop in the hours and days after the tear occurs. Signs and symptoms of a torn meniscus may include:
- Knee pain that worsens when you put pressure on the joint or when you walk
- Feeling a pop in the knee
- Mechanical locking and catching, when it feels like something is getting caught or stuck in your knee
- Knee stiffness
- Locking or catching of the knee
- Reduced range of motion in the knee
- Swelling of the knee that usually develops the day after the injury or increases during any activity
- A feeling that the affected knee won’t support you or is unstable
When to see a doctor
If you think you’ve torn your meniscus, you may not need to see a physician right away. A period of rest and caring for your knee at home may help symptoms improve. If torn meniscus symptoms stay the same or get worse after at-home care, you should see an orthopedic sports medicine physician. You should also see a physician if you can’t bend or straighten your knee or if it feels unstable.
What causes a torn meniscus?
A torn meniscus can occur from any activity that forces a sharp twist or rotation of the knee, like sudden stops, turns or pivoting. Even kneeling, deep squatting or lifting heavy objects can cause a tear.
Meniscus tears can also develop with increased age and with the development of arthritis. As you get older, the meniscus becomes more brittle and loses flexibility, which increases the risk of tearing.
Complications from a torn meniscus
A meniscus tear that doesn’t heal correctly can lead to ongoing knee pain and discomfort. Injuring your meniscus may also accelerate the breakdown of the cartilage in your knee and increase your risk for osteoarthritis in the future.
Locations
We offer several locations for your care, including orthopedic specialty centers in North and Central Texas.
