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Arthritis and cartilage wear
There are two types of cartilage in the knee, articular cartilage and meniscus. Articular cartilage surrounds the surfaces of the bones that make up the knee. Articular cartilage prevents damage when bones move and rub against each other. Two cartilage wedges that make up the meniscus rest on the articular cartilage. The meniscus distributes the weight evenly across the leg. Without the meniscus, weight is applied unevenly to the bones, resulting in arthritis of the knee. Meniscus tears, also known as cartilage tears, cause pain and swelling in the knee. Sometimes meniscus tears also result in joint locking, preventing the knee from fully extending. …
Arthritis and cartilage wear
There are two types of cartilage in the knee, articular cartilage and meniscus. Articular cartilage surrounds the surfaces of the bones that make up the knee. Articular cartilage prevents damage when bones move and rub against each other. Two cartilage wedges that make up the meniscus rest on the articular cartilage. The meniscus distributes the weight evenly across the leg. Without the meniscus, weight is applied unevenly to the bones, resulting in arthritis of the knee.
Meniscus tears, also known as cartilage tears, cause pain and swelling in the knee. Sometimes meniscus tears also result in joint locking, preventing the knee from fully extending. The meniscus is basically a very tough cartilage that consists of two menisci that conform to the surfaces of the bones. The menisci are located on the surface between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shinbone).
The two most common causes of meniscus tears are traumatic injury and degeneration. Athletes are susceptible to traumatic injuries that involve bending and twisting the knee, resulting in meniscus tears. Older adults are more susceptible to degeneration because age makes cartilage more susceptible to wear and tear as we age.
Meniscus tears usually present with the following symptoms:
o Pain, swelling and tenderness
o Clicking and popping in the knee
o Restriction of movement
Meniscus tear treatment
Many meniscus tears, especially chronic tears, can be treated nonsurgically through physical therapy, strengthening exercises, medications, and cortisone injections.
Surgery is usually not required to treat meniscal tears. Physiotherapy is a more common treatment. Sometimes physical therapy is accompanied by medications and cortisone injections to relieve pain.
Partial menisectomy is the most common form of surgery for meniscus tears. The torn part of the meniscus is removed. Usually this is a good option if the crack is small. If the tear is large, surgeons have the option of repairing the meniscus with stitches or tacks rather than completely moving the torn section of the meniscus.
Inspired by Michael Helfand