January 7th, 2015

The Facts You Need to Know About Meniscus Surgery

As the most used joint in the human body, it’s no wonder that the knee is particularly susceptible to injury. And as one of the primary weight-bearing joints, it’s no surprise either that knee injuries tend to be especially painful. If you’ve ever suffered from medial meniscus tear symptoms, you’ve experienced this pain first hand.

Think about your daily life and how often you use and need your knees. There aren’t many daily activities that would be possible without the use of these important joints. That’s why a tear to a ligament or to the meniscus is often immediately debilitating. Usually, these kinds of injuries are not ones that can simply be ignored or left to heal on their own. In some cases, these knee injuries require a surgical solution.

A Review of Medial Meniscus Tear Symptoms

Essential to the knee’s basic function and strength is the small, c-shaped fibrocartilage disc that cushions the impact of the joint’s movement. It’s a shock absorber and an overall stabilizer. It’s a key piece to a healthy knee joint and when it’s injured, the whole joint suffers.

Common medial meniscus tear symptoms include:
Immediate pain along the joint line on the inner or outer side of the knee
Audible popping noise at the time of injury
Stiffness and swelling of the joint, sometimes with redness
Loss of strength and stability, even to the point of the knee collapsing or giving out when weight is put on it

There are the occasional situations in which a meniscal tear does have the potential to heal on its own. In young patients whose bodies are healthy, a physician may recommend giving the knee some time to rest and rehabilitate to see if the meniscus can heal without surgery.

However, most cases involving meniscus tears do require surgery. One solution is performed arthroscopically and can resolve the injury by either cutting away the damaged area of the cartilage or by repairing the tear.

If you are currently experiencing what you think may be medial meniscus tear symptoms, it is important to be seen by an orthopedic physician, who can perform a physical exam and order x-rays or an MRI, if necessary. To set up an appointment with a specialist on our knee team, call Rothman Orthopaedic Institute today at 1-800-321-9999 or make an appointment.

When you come to Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, you’ll find out why we’re known throughout the region for excellence in orthopedic research and care. There’s a reason that patients around the Delaware Valley consistently prefer care from the subspecialty-trained physicians here. We invite you to experience the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute difference!