How can meniscus injury be treated? Does all meniscus injury require surgery?

Knee injuries are quite nagging and could tend to become painful to the point that you may also have difficulty in simple activities like sitting or walking. The Meniscus tear one of the most common of all knee injuries. Any injury to the C-shaped cartilage could be quite debilitating and could make your knee feel weak along with being painful. The main function of the meniscus is to give cushion between the thigh bone and the shinbone and also stability to the knee. A good twist or accident could cause a tear in the cartilage. A broken piece of the cartilage could also cause a major locking in the knee with it lodging in place which could restrict the normal movement of the knee. 

Meniscus tear is common in contact and non-contact sports which require jumping or twisting actions. This does not mean that the tear would happen only to sports persons but it could easily happen to a normal person mostly due to wear and tear, aging or sudden actions of the knee. People above the age of 65 have the most risk of having the tear as the cartilage itself weakens with age. 

Treatment for a meniscus tear?

Meniscal tear treatments are advised according to the severity, location, age, activity level and other related injuries which might affect at the same time. The first thing that is looked into when advising a treatment is the position of the tear. The tear could happen in the vascular (where enough blood vessels are present to supply a good amount of blood) or avascular (where blood-supplying vessels are minimal or nonexistent). If the injury is in the vascular region it has a very good chance of being repaired due to the good blood flow, which is very essential for the healing of any injury.

Some tears would heal on their own in some time due to the healing properties of the blood if in the vascular area. Some tears could heal with medicine and no invasive technique. The meniscus tear of minor severity, with stable knee and symptoms resolving in time may just need cold fomentation, rest, compression of the knee through the elastic bandage, anti-inflammatory medicines and light stretching and strengthening exercises. Avoiding rigorous activities like jumping, running, skipping or twisting would be recommended till the tear heals. 

Conservative treatments may not always be enough to heal the meniscus injury. A good knee doctor like Dr. Manish Maheshwari, the  Best orthopedic doctor in Indore, MP will give you the right opinion on the course of treatment to be taken after checking your tear type. Some more major injuries or injuries afflicted on the avascular area of the meniscus may need surgical intervention. The tears that affect the stability of the knee or locking symptoms will need surgery to rectify the problem by repairing or removing unstable edges. Grade three meniscus tear usually needs to be treated with surgery. The surgical interventions mostly recommended according to the tear is:

Arthroscopic Repair: In this, the doctor inserts an arthroscope through a small incision in the knee to see the tear clearly and can also stitch this tear through the arthroscope. 

Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy: This procedure is done if a piece of the torn meniscus is wedged inside the knee and is impairing the normal movement or locking the knee. The surgeon removes the stray piece in the knee enabling its normal movement.

Arthroscopic Total Meniscectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon removes the whole meniscus if it cannot be repaired. 

Meniscus repair is a very low-risk procedure and so complications are rare in this procedure. But some risks may be knee stiffness, injury to skin nerves or infections. Compression stocking to prevent blood clots, antibiotics to ward off infections, braces or cast may be recommended depending on the stability and rehabilitation period of the knee. Physiotherapy may also be recommended as a part of your recovery program. A total or partial meniscectomy will take lesser time to heal than a meniscus repair. 

Dr. Manish Maheshwari, one of the leading Sports medicine orthopedic surgeon in Indore, MP believes that any niggle in the knee should be consulted with a good doctor specializing in the knee or joint injuries. This should be treated conventionally or surgically at the earliest. Book an appointment today call now us at 9826252228 for more information.

Please Drop Us A Message For Any Query :- https://www.drmanishmaheshwari.com/contact-us.htm

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