The meniscus is a C-shaped pad of specialized cartilage that acts like a shock-absorber or cushion in the knee joint. The meniscus is located between the femur and tibia bones in the knee and distribute weight and reduce friction during movement. There are 2 menisci in the knee – one on the inside of the knee (medial meniscus) and one on the outside of the knee (lateral meniscus)
Meniscus tears typically occur as a result of twisting injuries to the knee. They can be due to a traumatic injury, often seen in athletes, or they can be degenerative in nature, tearing from relatively minor trauma as the meniscus becomes more brittle with age. The symptoms of a meniscus tear include pain, swelling, locking, and the inability to completely straighten the knee joint. An MRI is frequently obtained to diagnose the meniscus tear (Figure 1).
Treatment of meniscal tears depends on several factors including the type of tear, the location of the tear, and the activity level of the patient. If surgery is necessary, minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques are used to either trim out the torn portion of the meniscus (partial meniscectomy) or to repair the meniscus.