Torn Meniscus

What are meniscus tear symptoms?

The mechanism of injury is usually a twisting of the knee. You might feel a "pop" or “crack” when you tear the meniscus. Most people can walk on their injured knee and many athletes may still be able to play on. Over the coming days, the knee will gradually become more stiff and swollen.

The most common symptom of a meniscal tear is knee pain. Other symptoms include:

• Stiffness and swelling
• Catching or locking
• Instability, or the knee "giving way" on you
• A locked knee, or inability to move the knee through its full range of motion

How do you make a diagnosis of a torn meniscus?

After taking a concise and directed medical history, your knee will be examined.

During the examination, I will look for:

• Swelling, warmth and redness
• Pain to touch or palpation
• Range of motion
• Crepitus (grinding) with movement
• Your gait (the way you walk)
• Assess ligaments of the knee
• Signs of previous injuries

The gold standard radiological imaging for a torn meniscus in Perth Western Australia diagnosis is an MRI scan.

Treatment options for torn meniscus

Non-operative Meniscus Tear Treatment Perth

A degenerative meniscal tear in an older patient with arthritis will generally not need surgery. Initial non-operative treatment includes:

• Rest. Take a break from the activity that caused the injury.
• Ice. Use cold packs for up to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.
• Compression. To prevent further swelling, wear an elastic compression bandage.
• Elevation. To reduce swelling, recline when you rest, and put your leg up on a pillow.
• Simple painkillers, such as anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) or Panadol, may reduce inflammation and pain.
• Cortisone injections into the knee can be helpful.
• Wearing a knee brace helps with pain relief and improves mobility.