What is Meniscus, Diagnosis and Treatment
What Is Meniscus, Diagnosis And Treatment
Meniscus is one of the most common joint injuries. Meniscus tears that occur in young people are typically caused by sports accidents. If left untreated, these tears can negatively affect athletes' careers. Meniscus tears that occur in older people due to wear and tear on the body can be treated with various methods. Examination, MRI, or diagnostic arthroscopy are used to diagnose meniscus.
What is Meniscus?
Although it is known as a disease among the public, meniscus actually refers to an important structure that protects the cartilage in the knee joint. This structure provides ease of movement in the knees, one of the body's most active joint areas. The meniscus, which roughly functions as a hinge between the thigh and shin bones, consists of two parts, O and C-shaped. Each knee has one set of these parts.
The O-shaped structure is referred to as the outer meniscus, while the C-shaped structure is called the inner meniscus. The meniscus, which increases the contact surface between the thigh and shin bones, allows the body weight to be evenly distributed over the bones. In addition, it is among the discomforts caused by the meniscus to absorb the shock force that occurs in the knee area as a result of a sudden impact and to spread the intra-articular fluid to the joint cartilage.
How Does Meniscus Injury Occur?
Meniscus tear, one of the problems that athletes frequently encounter, can also happen to many people in daily life. Those who carry heavy loads, stand for long periods, housewives who deal with housework intensively, and the elderly can face meniscus tears. These types of injuries, which usually occur when the body weight is shifted to one side, can sometimes occur even in simple movements such as kneeling, squatting, and lifting heavy loads. When the tears and injuries that occur in the meniscus are examined under a few main headings, these headings are listed as follows:
Direct Injuries: Covers injuries that occur as a result of direct blows to the knee. Falling on the knee, traffic accidents, and kicks to the knee cause this type of injury.
Indirect Injuries: Consists of injuries that occur as a result of the body turning on the knee. In such cases, the body usually performs a turning motion on the knee while the foot is fixed on the ground. Tears that occur during football matches and skiing are considered indirect injuries, and loss of balance and tripping can also cause the body to rotate uncontrollably on the knee.
Degenerative Injuries: These are injuries caused by deformations that occur in the body due to aging. In such situations, even the slightest blow to the knee can prepare the ground for the tearing of intact menisci, especially in older people.
What are the Symptoms of Meniscus Tears?
Pain in the knees
Swelling and stiffness in the knees
Locking of the knees
Patients with meniscus tears usually experience pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knees as their initial complaints. Pain in the knees during activities such as climbing up and down stairs, sitting and standing up, or walking up and down hills is the first sign of damage to the meniscus. These types of pain and swelling, which are often overlooked in daily life, can lead to more serious problems later on. In the next stage, patients also experience locking of the knees in addition to knee pain. The catching of the knees during sitting and standing up leads to the knee getting locked in a certain position, followed by a feeling of emptying in the knees. Meniscus treatment can be carried out without the need for surgery in the early stages. However, in the later stages, it may become necessary for patients to undergo meniscus surgery.
How is Meniscus Treatment Done?
The treatment method applied to patients varies depending on the size of the injury and tears. In acute cases, applying an ice pack to the affected area, keeping the knee elevated above the body, and rest play an important role in treatment. The pain and discomfort experienced in the knees make daily life difficult for patients. Therefore, as soon as complaints arise, the patient should be diagnosed and appropriate treatment should be started without delay.
Otherwise, patients' sports activities are also disrupted along with daily activities. In addition, untreated tears cause wear and tear in the joints and bones, leading to early onset of knee osteoarthritis called "gonarthrosis". The treatment methods used to prevent these problems are discussed under two main headings: exercise and medication therapy and surgical treatment.
Exercise and Medication Therapy
Damage to the meniscus can be repaired with the medication and exercises recommended by the doctor after examination and diagnosis in low-grade tears. In addition to these exercises and medications, patients need to rest for a certain period of time. When meniscus can be healed with physiotherapy, adhering to the exercise program given by the doctor is of great importance in the recovery process. Otherwise, low-grade tears can progress and require surgical treatment. For physiotherapy to be effective, a minimum of a 1.5-month exercise plan may be needed.
Arthroscopy Replaces Open Surgery!
A new era begins with the developing technology in meniscus surgeries. With a special technique called arthroscopy, very small holes are opened in the patient's knees, and a camera-equipped optical device is inserted through these holes. The area captured by the device is reflected on the screen, allowing the damaged area to be clearly seen.
Removing the torn part of the meniscus is sufficient for treatment. Arthroscopy, which replaces the previously used open surgery, does not leave any scars or stains. In addition, this technological method allows the patient to get up and return to daily activities without losing time in a short period of time. There is no need for patients to worry about dressings after the procedures performed without an incision. The majority of patients recover without the need for physiotherapy after surgery.
