The meniscus is a circular shaped disc of cartilage tissue. There are two menisci in the knee – one on the inside, called the medial meniscus, and one on the outside, called the lateral meniscus. Their main function is to act as shock absorbers in the knee, helping to reduce wear and tear on the joint.
Can a meniscal tear heal by itself?
Most of the meniscus does not have its own blood supply, and so cannot always get the nutrients needed for self-repair. Healing of meniscus therefore depends on where it becomes torn. Tears on the periphery of the meniscus, which attaches to the knee capsule, do have the potential to heal because they are close to a blood supply. Tear in the inner aspect of the meniscus have no capacity for self-repair.
What are the symptoms of a meniscal tear?
The common symptom of a torn meniscus is pain, often felt as a sharp, almost “knife-like” stabbing sensation on the inside (medial meniscal tear) or outside (lateral meniscal tear) of the knee. However, it can even present just as stiffness of the knee or a locked knee.
How does the doctor diagnose a meniscal tear?
A meniscal tear can be diagnosed based on your history, and a magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI scan). An MRI scan uses very strong magnetic fields to look at the inside of the knee, and allows all the soft tissues, ligaments and cartilage to be seen clearly.
What is a meniscectomy?
It is the removal of unstable part of a torn meniscus (cartilage) during arthroscopy.
What is meniscal repair?
Tears in the periphery of the meniscus can be repaired by threads or anchors.
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