The meniscus is the soft cartilage cushion for the knee joint which provides stability and shock absorption. The blood supply to the meniscus varies by location — certain areas of the meniscus have better blood supply than others. When a tear occurs, treatment depends in the size, shape, and location of the tear. 

 

A meniscus tear can cause a swollen, painful knee and intermittent symptoms of locking up, catching, and/or buckling (giving way). 

 

This soft cartilage can easily be torn in a variety of ways: a fall or trauma, a plant-and-twist (pivot) injury, or simply through wear-and-tear. An examination in the office as well as MRI imaging will confirm the presence of a meniscus tear, and of which morphology. Depending on the size, shape, and location of your meniscus tear, there are different treatment options:

 

• Meniscus Repair: when an area of the meniscus with sufficient blood supply is torn, it is repairable.

• Partial Meniscectomy: when an area of the meniscus with insufficient blood supply is torn, the torn portion is not repairable and must be debrided (“smoothed out” or “removed”).

• Physical therapy: symptoms caused by some smaller meniscus tears will improve completely with low impact strengthening designed to optimize the biomechanics of the knee.