The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of tough, rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the shinbone and the thighbone. It can be torn if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it. Treatment Treatment for a torn meniscus often begins conservatively, depending on the type, size and location of your tear.

Understanding the Context

Tears associated with arthritis often improve over time with treatment of the arthritis, so surgery usually isn't indicated. Mayo Clinic is rated a top hospital for meniscus tears & repairs and is home to knee doctors with expertise in diagnosing and treating sports and recreational injuries. Background on meniscus root tears This scenario may indicate that a patient has experienced a meniscus root tear, a tear at the junction of the knee's meniscus and bone. This type of tear often occurs with twisting or rotational movements, or loaded knee flexion, such as lifting a weighty object.

Key Insights

A meniscus root tear may occur in circumstances that appear benign, such as walking up a flight of ... The meniscus is a commonly injured structure within the knee joint. As a shock absorber and stabilizer, it is crucial to knee health and longevity in terms of performance and activity. Traditionally, tearing it meant meniscus removal, which leads to rapid destruction of the joint surface cartilage and development of arthritis, and the end of [โ€ฆ] ANSWER: Maneuvers that forcefully compress and twist or rotate the knee can lead to a torn meniscus, which is cartilage in the knee joint. This cartilage acts like a cushion between the shinbone (tibia) and thighbone (femur).

Final Thoughts

Meniscal tears are among the most common knee injuries. How torn knee cartilage is treated varies considerably. Been through it with my husband - both meniscus repair and then, ultimately, a full knee replacement. I injured my knee in a fall last summer and I have arrived now with two tears - this is, partially, what my MRI says: Chronic appearing horizontal tear of the posterior horn and body of the medial meniscus extending to the tibial articular ... Torn meniscus - to repair or not to repair? - Mayo Clinic Connect