Thursday, July 19, 2007

MENISCUS (CARTILAGE) INJURIES



MENISCUS (CARTILAGE) INJURIES



The meniscus is a "C" shaped "shock absorber" which lies between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). There is a meniscus on the inner (medial) side of the knee and one on the outer (lateral) side of the knee. Injuries to either the medial meniscus or the lateral meniscus are common and are often referred to as a "torn cartilage". Injuries to the menisci often result in pain and swelling in the knee. If the torn piece of meniscus is large, it may cause the knee to catch, lock, or give way (For more anatomy, click here).



Catching occurs when the torn fragment briefly lodges between the bones then works its way out. If the fragment does not work its way out the knee will remain "locked", meaning the knee cannot fully bend or straighten. Locking can be brief (lasting seconds or minutes) or persistent (lasting weeks). Giving way occurs when the torn piece of meniscus slips out of place which causes pain and reflex relaxation of the thigh muscles. When the muscles relax the knee "gives way" or "gives out."



The most common cause of sudden (acute) meniscal tears in younger people is a combined loading and twisting injury to the knee. However, the medial or lateral meniscus can undergo a degenerative tear without any significant injury to the knee. The medial meniscus is more frequently injured than the lateral meniscus.




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