The meniscus is a separate piece of cartilage within the knee. When someone has been told they have “torn a cartilage” it usually means that they have torn the meniscus.

 

A tear in the meniscus can be caused by different mechanisms. At a young age a significant injury is required to cause a tear, but in the older population a tear can occur with very little trauma.

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A meniscal tear will often cause swelling initially, the pain is often a constant ache in one area of the knee, most commonly on the inside. This pain can be worse with twisting or turning. Sometimes the meniscus will cause locking which means that you have difficulty getting your knee fully straight.  It may unlock with a clunk, or require manipulation to unlock it. If your knee is locked and you are unable to straighten it, then urgent assessment is usually required.

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Tears in thew meniscus can be asymptomatic. Some meniscal tears will settle down and become asymptomatic without surgery after a period of time or physiotherapy. If the meniscal tear is causing symptoms or locking and these are not settling down, then keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery may be required.

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In younger patients the meniscal tear may be repairable, but if the tear has been long standing or occurs in older patients then repair may not be possible and trimming of the torn part of the meniscus may required.

 

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