Meniscus Tear

Meniscus tears affect athletes, people with chronic conditions like arthritis, and many others, making them one of the most common knee injuries. At GoOrthopedic, with two offices in San Jose and Manteca, California, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kalle Stidham offers the full spectrum of treatments to help you heal. To learn more about your treatment options for a meniscus tear, call today for an appointment online today.

What is a meniscus tear?

A meniscus tear is an injury to the menisci, the two crescent-shaped pieces of cartilage between your femur (thigh bone) and tibia (lower leg bone). Your menisci help guide weight transfer from the top of your leg to the bottom, and they’re vital for knee stability. 

A tear in this cartilage can lead to serious issues, including:

• Pain
• Instability
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Knee locking
• Weakness

Meniscus tears often happen alongside other injuries like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.  

What causes meniscus tears?

Meniscus tears can occur in two ways: sudden knee trauma and degenerative tears that worsen over time. 

Trauma

Athletes often experience meniscus injuries during exercise that push the limits of knee rotation, such as pivots or stop-and-start movements. Less commonly, deep squatting and heavy lifting can lead to a meniscus tear.

Degenerative tears

Degenerative tears account for around one-third of all meniscus tears. They occur because of age-related weakening of the knee tissues. Because degenerative tears build up over time, even a very minor movement, like rising from a sitting position with a slight twist, could cause a meniscus tear. 

GoOrthopedic evaluates your injury, determines its cause, and discusses all your treatment options to streamline your care on the recovery pathway.

How is a meniscus tear treated?

Treatment of a meniscus tear depends on many individual factors, including the type of tear, its location, its size, and symptom severity. The two main treatment pathways are: 

Nonsurgical care

In many cases, a conservative, nonsurgical approach, including physical therapy and rest, allows your meniscus to heal and relieves your pain. 

Corticosteroid injections can diminish severe inflammation and provide effective pain relief. Another nonsurgical option is restorative cell therapy, in which your provider injects platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or other biological substances to stimulate rapid tissue repair. 

Meniscus surgery

Meniscus surgery may be the best approach if your pain persists after nonsurgical treatments. GoOrthopedic offers the most advanced surgical approaches, which usually require only the tiniest incisions. Some meniscus tears are repairable using sutures, while others require trimming. A meniscus transplant is an option for tears that aren’t repairable.

With prompt orthopedic care and rehabilitation, patients with meniscus tears can experience full healing and return to their favorite sport and other regular activities. GoOrthopedic helps place you on a clear path to a complete recovery. 

For meniscus tears, you can count on GoOrthopedic to take care of your condition with comprehensive care. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.