Treating a Torn Meniscus In the Knee

By Brantley P Vitek Jr, MD

You may not recognize the name, but a meniscal tear is one of the most common problems affecting the knee. When people talk about torn cartilage in the knee joint, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus.

The meniscus is a rubbery piece of cartilage that cushions and stabilizes the knee and helps distribute body weight across the joint. Each knee has two menisci. A tear can prevent the knee from functioning normally. Left untreated, it can lead to early arthritis of the knee joint.

Meniscal tears affect people of all ages and activity levels. Athletes who play high-demand, stop-and-go pivot sports are especially vulnerable. The injury is extremely common in young women athletes, and often occurs together with an ACL tear. In older adults, the cause is usually degenerative changes in the knee.

If you tear your meniscus, you'll likely experience knee pain, swelling and stiffness. You may feel a pop at the time of your injury and your knee may catch and lock when you try to walk. Kneeling, squatting, twisting or turning will make the symptoms worse.

Treatment depends on the severity of your injury. If your symptoms are mild and your knee is stable, conservative measures such as rest, observation and activity modification may be all you need. Ibuprofen or aspirin can help with pain and swelling.

If your injury is severe, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary. In this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon inserts a small camera into the knee joint and uses tiny instruments to repair or trim the tear. Most patients resume normal activities within a few weeks.