Meniscus Tear

A meniscus tear is an injury resulting from damage to the shock absorbing cartilage of the knee joint. It typically results in pain on the inside of the knee.

You will usually see a torn meniscus in contact sports through a collision between athletes. It is sometimes a result of sudden twisting of the knee. However, it can also happen to older athletes or active individuals. In these cases, it is usually a result of gradual degeneration of the tissues of the knee.

Symptoms of a torn meniscus include pain, swelling and stiffness of the knee joint. In addition, the patient may feel a block to moving his/her knee beyond a certain point. Rest and icing, together with pain killing medication, are usually adequate treatments for a torn meniscus.

The knee has 2 menisci – lateral on the outer side of the knee and medial on the inner side. Each meniscus is a C shaped piece of cartilage functioning as cushions between the thigh bone and shin bone.

Causes & Risk Factors

A meniscus tear is usually the result of an activity that forces the patient to sharply twist or rotate the knee. Sometimes kneeling or deep squats or lifting a heavy object can result in this injury.

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These are meniscus tear injuries that are produced by a trauma. However, in some cases, a meniscus tear can be the end result of degeneration of the knee’s cartilage tissue.

Playing sports that require sudden knee joint twists or pivots is a risk factor that increases the chances of a torn meniscus. These are mainly contact sports like football or rugby, or sports requiring sudden changes in running direction, like basketball.

Meniscus Tear Symptoms

In addition to pain in the region of the knee, typical symptoms of a meniscus injury are swelling and a feeling that the knee is “giving way” and cannot support the weight of the body.

The patient may also experience difficulty straightening the injured knee fully. The knee may sometimes feel as though it is “locked” at a specific angle.

Treatment

In dealing with a meniscus tear injury, the doctor will usually opt for conservative treatments as a first step. These strategies may include:

Avoiding activities that require twisting, rotating or pivoting the injured knee. The patient should try to keep weight off the knee, using crutches or a wheelchair if these are available.
Icing the knee regularly to control pain and swelling;
Taking non prescription pain medication like aspirin.

As a long term solution, the patient can follow an exercise program that strengthens the muscles next to the knee.

As a final resort, if the above strategies prove unsuccessful, doctors can perform surgery to repair meniscus tear damage by trimming the meniscus. If the meniscus damage is extensive and has led to osteoarthritis, knee replacement is an option. Yet a third surgical option is a meniscus transplant from a deceased donor.

A knee brace can also be a useful conservative treatment. Please read this article on choosing a knee brace for a meniscus injury for more information

Suggested Meniscus Tear Products

CrossFire ROM
Hinged Knee Brace
BioSkin®
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Optimal support for knee instability with SlimLok ROM hinge. The BioSkin CrossFire ROM protects the MCL, ACL and other knee ligaments, providing extra stability while limiting unwanted twisting and bending of the knee joint. The hinge is very thin, only ½ inch, while providing flexion and extension lockouts needed for rehabilitation. The Bio Skin material is very comfortable with a highly-compressive single-layer portion surrounding the knee. The Cirrus™ material is sewn in a pre-tensioned manner to prevent bunching behind the knee which ensures a comfortable fit throughout vigorous activity. The brace’s comfort continues into the small details of how it is sewn together; featuring the ActiveSeam™ stitch that prevents unwanted chafing in the more sensitive areas of the knee.
Frontier Post Op Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace
BioSkin®
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The BioSkin Frontier post-op knee brace is light and easy to use while offering advanced features such as regulation of range of motion or post op immobilization to promote rapid healing. One Size Fits All, eliminating the sizing issues encountered with sized knee braces.

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BioSkin®
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Lightweight and low profile for comfort. Our BioSkin Hinged Knee Skin is one of the lightest hinged knee braces available. The offset, bicentric hinges conform to the shape of the leg and provide extra support to knees with ligament damage. The Hinged Knee Skin provides excellent compression to control swelling and pain caused from a meniscus tear or an LCL or MCL injury, and to speed up the healing process in a damaged knee joint.
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The BioSkin Patella Stabilizer is an excellent choice to treat anterior knee pain and other knee problems. Constructed from Bio Skin’s patented, breathable materials, the patella stabilizer gives excellent compression to control swelling and decrease pain in the knee. The donut shaped buttresses stabilize the patella and help keep swelling away from the knee joint. The brace is comfortable to wear and stays in place even during vigorous activity.
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Rated 5.00 out of 5
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Medium-level compression for minor pain and instability

The BioSkin Standard Knee Skin provides optimal compression to decrease knee pain, control swelling, and increase proprioception. The design features a two-panel construction so there is no seam in the sensitive area behind the knee. Bio Skin’s unique, patented materials make the brace breathable and comfortable, and wicks moisture away from the skin. All Bio Skin materials are 100% neoprene free and latex free!
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BioSkin®
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Silicone ring helps keep swelling off the joint

The Bio Skin Visco Knee Skin with Thigh & Calf Straps is an excellent all-purpose knee support. The Visco gel ring around the patella provides passive massage to remove swelling and decrease knee pain. The brace is comfortable enough to wear all the time and is very useful a few weeks after knee surgery to control swelling and speed recovery. Constructed fromBio Skin’s patented, breathable materials, the Visco Knee Skin gives excellent compression. Finger loops make application easy.