What is a Meniscus Tear?

Anatomy and Shock-Absorbing Functions of Menisci

Each human knee accommodates two crescentic wedges of fibrocartilage—the medial and lateral meniscus. They serve vital mechanical roles: joint load distribution, shock attenuation, chondral lubrication, and secondary joint stabilization.

Traumatic vs. Degenerative Tear Patterns

Acute tears result from forceful rotation during weight-bearing athletic maneuvers. Degenerative tears develop insidiously in older adults whose fibrocartilage has experienced progressive collagen matrix senescence.

Primary Symptoms

• Sharp, localized joint line pain upon walking or pivoting
• Mechanical catching, clicking, or true locked knee preventing full extension
• Delayed reactive joint effusion (swelling) within 24 hours of injury
• A feeling of knee instability or 'giving way' under load

Frequently Asked Questions

Is meniscal repair preferred over removal?

Preservation via arthroscopic meniscal suturing is preferred whenever tissue vascularity (red-red or red-white zones) permits, preserving long-term chondral protection. Avascular tears undergo minimal partial meniscectomy.

How is meniscal surgery performed?

Modern meniscal surgery is exclusively minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery performed through tiny portal incisions under camera guidance.