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Meniscal Injuries…

Each knee contains two C-shaped structures made of cartilage called "menisci." There is, in each knee, a medial and a lateral meniscus. The menisci serve a number of functions vital to normal knee function. Their primary role is to act as cushions, or shock absorbers, for the knee, evenly distributing the enormous load that occurs with weight bearing activities. The menisci also have other, less important functions such as providing some stability to the knee and aiding in maintaining joint lubrication. There are four major ligaments in the knee.

A "ligament" is a tough fibrous band that holds two bones together and provides joint stability. The two ligaments within the knee joint are called the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The two ligaments on the outside of the joint are the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Injuries to the menisci may occur either in isolation or an association with an injury to one or several of these ligaments.

About Meniscal Injuries
Because the menisci are made of relatively soft cartilage, they are particularly prone to tearing. Meniscal tears typically occur with twisting injuries to the knee. Patients with a torn meniscus commonly complain of pain at the site of the tear, clicking, inability to fully extend the knee, swelling, and stiffness. Pain is generally worse with activity and relieved by rest. Meniscal tears cause pain by displacing between the weight bearing surfaces of the joint, much like a rock in ones shoe causes pain.

Meniscal tears may occur in isolation or association with injuries to 1 or several of the major ligamentous structures of the knee. In particular, injuries to the ACL are frequently associated with meniscal tears. It may at times be difficult to differentiate the pain of a meniscal tear from that of tear of the medial collateral ligament.

How It's Diagnosed
The diagnosis of a meniscal tear can usually be made on the basis of the history and physical examination in our offices. Your Central Physician and Surgeon physician may decide to order an MRI scan; this test, which does not involve exposure to radiation, allows us to directly image the soft tissue structures, including the menisci at ligaments, of the knee. It is often useful to confirm the suspicion of meniscal tear or to evaluate the knee for injury to other structures in addition to the menisci.

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