Meniscal Tear
Overview
Risk Factors
A torn meniscus is more common in men. A tear caused by trauma is more common in active people under 40 years of age. Sports that require pivoting raise the risk of this injury. Examples are basketball, soccer, and football.
Tears caused by aging are more common in people over 40 years of age.
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Treatments
Treatment
The goal is to ease pain and improve movement. This may be done with:
- Ice and rest to ease pain and swelling
- A knee brace to keep the knee from moving
- Crutches to keep weight off the knee
- Medicine to ease pain and swelling
- Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee
Surgery may be done if other methods have not helped. The damaged meniscus may be repaired or removed.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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a (Torn Meniscus)
RESOURCES
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine http://www.sportsmed.org
Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Orthopaedic Association http://www.coa-aco.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation http://www.canorth.org
References
Howell R, Kumar NS, et al. Degenerative meniscus: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options. World J Orthop. 2014 Nov 18;5(5):597-602.
Knee sprains and meniscal tears. Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries%5Fpoisoning/fractures%5Fdislocations%5Fand%5Fsprains/knee%5Fsprains%5Fand%5Fmeniscal%5Finjuries.html. Updated August 2019. Accessed March 26, 2020.
Meniscal tears. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/meniscus-tears. Updated March 2014. Accessed March 26, 2020.
Meniscus tears. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/meniscus-tears . Updated June 5, 2017. Accessed March 26, 2020.