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A meniscus is a type of cartilage inside the joint of the knee, located between the shinbone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur). There are two different types of menisci: one lateral and one medial. The main role of meniscus is the absorption of shock when bearing weight. Meniscus also allows the bones to glide safely and move on each other by acting as cushions between the two bones.
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- Knee pain with tenderness
- Swelling of knee joint at the initial stage
- Locking -- a knee can't be fully extended because the fragments of injured meniscus get caught within the joints of the knee
- Click or pops as the knee is moved
- A torn meniscus may lead to the degeneration of the joint, causing pain, stiffness and swelling.
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- The meniscus tear usually results from the forceful twisting of a knee joint injury. In older people, minor injuries may cause the meniscus to tear.
- Degenerated meniscus are commonly torn in older people with osteoarthritis. A meniscus tear also occurs as a result of forceful squat.
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- History and physical examination
- A knee X-Ray can help to rule out the other causes of knee pain
- MRI scan -- very sensitive method to detect the meniscus injury
- Arthroscopy -- a useful diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Torn meniscus can be directly seen and repaired by Arthroscopy at the same time.
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- Conservative treatment -- if the size of the tear is small, spontaneous healing is expected. A knee brace and crutch are both helpful to rest and support the knee joint.
- Surgery -- if the symptoms do not improve or the tear is too large, surgery is recommended. Arthroscopic repair or removal may be done according to the location and size of meniscus. A rehabilitation program is needed to recover the normal function of the knee after surgery. This includes strengthening and range of motion exercises of knee joint, therapeutic modalities to relieve pain and swelling of knee joint and progressive weight training.
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