Tears are the most prevalent kind of meniscal injury. The specific causes of a fracture forming on the inner or outer meniscus are unknown. The inner meniscus is afflicted more commonly than the outer meniscus for anatomical reasons. When the knee is bent and loaded and suddenly a decisive, uncontrolled twisting action, the menisci might be stressed. The pressure and synchronous rotation cause shearing action. The meniscus has the potential to tear.
Table of Contents
Symptoms and signs
One of the most common knee injuries is a cruciate ligament injury. Symptoms of dysfunction of the joint are easily discernible. In particular, damage to the anterior cruciate ligament causes pain with movement. At the time of injury, the following symptoms appear:
- characteristic click or crack;
- the knee becomes unstable, in which case cruciate ligament plasty of the knee joint may be required ;
- edema that develops within a short time;
- fluid accumulates in the joint cavity;
- Movement is restricted.
All this means that you need to consult a specialist in Hip and Knee Orthopedics before making the right decision regarding further medical procedures. The most common lateral and medial menisci function in the knee degenerative joint changes in the outer and inner meniscus. Rupture of the anterior horn of the meniscus is relatively rare and difficult to heal.
A conventional x-ray is not practiced in these cases since the meniscus is not visible in the picture. You can use the introduction of a contrast agent, but Hip and Knee Orthopedics uses more modern and effective diagnostic methods for this – ultrasound and tomography.
Damage classification
There is a classification that gives a very rough idea of the severity of injuries, but the offered degrees allow them to be structured:
- The first is a slight swelling and soreness, the stability of the joint is preserved;
- The second is a partial rupture now. It is much easier to get a relapse than with a primary injury;
- Third: complete rupture of the ligament.
Treatment of menisci and cruciate ligaments
The severity of the injury determines the choice of treatment technique. Only a doctor can answer the question of how to treat. And it is better if it is an experienced orthopedic surgeon from Hip and Knee Orthopedic. A personal approach is needed to determine the need for surgical, conservative therapeutic, physiotherapeutic treatment or methods.
Conservative treatment.
Its task is to eliminate the blockade of the joint. A puncture is performed, the joint is freed from effusions and blood, novocaine is injected, after which the blocking is removed. This is a step-by-step manipulation. With a favorable outcome, immobilization is performed. In the treatment use:
- UHF therapy;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- massage;
- Therapeutic drugs.
If conservative treatment fails or the disease has become chronic, the patient is scheduled for surgery. Depending on the case’s intricacy, the patient’s age, and the occurrence of comorbidities, the following procedure is used:
- Partial or complete removal of the meniscus (meniscectomy);
- If the victim is young, physiotherapy can be carried out – this is the most gentle technique;
- The safest and preferred method is arthroscopy when the damaged segment is sutured;
- A relatively new method – intra-articular fastening of the meniscus – is characterized by low trauma and the use of special fixators;
- Meniscus transplantation is an expensive procedure. It is used when other methods are powerless. There are contraindications for the operation.
Recovery period
With conservative treatment, physiotherapy exercises should be used. Activities are selected individually, and massage procedures have proven themselves well. This period takes 2-3 months, and its effectiveness depends on many factors, including learning how to sleep after meniscus surgery.
Rehabilitation – the period after surgery – is a long process. The severity of the injury determines its duration and requires the imposition of plaster or stitches, restriction of movement. For this period to pass faster, you need to strictly follow the rehabilitator’s advice at Hip and Knee Orthopedics.
Complications may accompany the operated damage to the meniscus of the knee joint:
- popliteal vein thrombosis;
- pinched nerve endings;
- violation of blood flow;
- infection;
- Allergy to anesthetics.
Conclusion
Successful recovery is also determined by constant training. The doctor chooses the course of physical therapy. Turning to specialists from Hip and Knee Orthopedics, the patient receives high-quality treatment for a disease of the meniscus or ligament and effective rehabilitation treatment.
Also Read: Knee Meniscus Tear Test And Exercises For Full Recovery.
