Meniscus Tear Center
Getting rid of the catching and locking to get you back to normal life!
Meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries. The meniscus functions as a shock absorber between the two bones in the knee The meniscus helps dissipate pressure to protect the cartilage vital for painless knee function. Meniscus tears occur in many ways, shapes and forms. They usually are caused by a pivot injury in the knee. The knee swells immediately and when you walk you may hear popping or you may feel catching and locking within the knee joint. An understanding of a few terms is important.
Meniscus Repair- when the surgeon uses stitches to put the torn meniscus back together Menisectomy- when the surgeon removes part of the torn meniscus to make the joint move smoothly Cartilage- the meniscus is a form of cartilage, but it is not articular cartilage. In fact the meniscus acts to protect the articular cartilage. Many people refer to meniscus tears as cartilage tears. |
In most patients under the age of 30, meniscus tears are usually repaired using stitches if possible. In patients over 35, it is extremely unlikely that the meniscus will be repaired unless an ACL tear occurs at the same time. In patients over 50, partial menisectomy is done after cortisone and physical therapy have failed. Some meniscus tears can't be repaired while others can. Have your surgeon discuss the tear pattern with you so you have a better understanding of which procedure would be best for you.
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One meniscus tear variant is called the bucket handle tear. This is a tear pattern that causes the knee to lock and not bend. It is considered a surgical urgency as it limits motion. Surgical intervention is imperative to restore motion and stability. Watch the video to see more about the infamous bucket handle meniscus tear that causes a locked knee.
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Office HoursMon-Fri: 9AM-5PM
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Telephone |
High School Football Season Added Coverage HoursSaturdays During High School Football Season
Injury Clinic is for INJURED PLAYERS ONLY. Snellville ONLY. 9AM-10AM MEDIA ROOM |