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  • What are the structures inside the knee?
    The knee is a hinge joint made up of many structures including: Ligaments – There are 2 main ligaments inside the knee which provide support. These are the anterior (acl) and posterior cruciate ligament (pcl). Cartilage – the knee is coated in a smooth bearing surface (articular cartilage) to allow it to glide easily. Meniscus – Consisting of the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) meniscus these structures help the knee bend and rotate, as well as acting as shock absorbers.
  • How does the meniscus get injured?
    Usually this is caused by a twisting type injury. Sometimes it results from a more complex injury where other structures are damaged.
  • How can you tell if I have sustained a tear?
    The mechanism of injury may suggest a tear. You may experience sharp pain on either side of the knee, feel clicking or catching and sometimes the knee can lock. Clinical examination may reproduce this, but in some cases a MRI scan is needed to confirm the diagnosis.
  • How is it treated?
    When your symptoms fail to settle with other measures (e.g. physiotherapy) then key-hole surgery (arthroscopy) is performed. At surgery the meniscus is examined and where a tear is found, it will be treated by either trimming the torn portion or by suture repair.
  • Can all tears be repaired?
    The meniscus has poor healing qualities and so therefore only tears close to the blood supply can be repaired.
  • How is a tear repaired?
    Through the keyhole incisions made in your knee, very fine sutures are passed across the tear and a knot tied.

Meniscal Tear

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