Meniscectomy - one of the most common knee injuries, very often affecting professional athletes. Although it is most common in basketball players, footballers, etc.
What is a meniscal tear?
The meniscus is the cartilaginous tissue between the femur and the tibia in the knee joint. A meniscal tear is a tear in the meniscus of the knee joint, or a tear of part of it. This injury severely impairs the function of the knee joint.
What are the symptoms of a meniscal tear?
A meniscal tear can be reasonably suspected if:
- the joints rattle;
- pain in the knee joint;
- swelling of the joint;
- the knee joint feels as if it is locking.
Why does the meniscus tear?
Depending on the cause of the meniscus tear, there are two types of meniscus tears:
1) Traumatic meniscal tears. The latter are caused by a sudden and heavy load on the joint, by sudden movements (especially rotational movements), or by a strong blow to the knee joint, or more specifically to its side.
2) Degenerative meniscal tears. The latter are caused by age, inflammatory changes which cause the meniscus to lose elasticity.
What happens when the meniscus tears?
The side of the knee joint that is painful determines whether the medial or lateral meniscus is damaged. In the case of a tear, the joint usually seems to be stuck in a certain position and there is very severe pain when stretching the leg. This locking is caused by a meniscal splinter trapped between the articular bone surfaces. Swelling is likely to be evident the next day, and pain is felt not only when straightening the leg but also when twisting or crossing the legs. If even a small part of the meniscus is detached, there will be an audible crunching of the joint.
After the injury and after allowing the joint to rest, the pain and swelling may improve . But don't be discouraged, as as soon as you start to move more, both pain and swelling will return. You should not delay - you should see a doctor as soon as possible who will carry out the necessary tests and examine the knee joint and prescribe an effective treatment. The meniscus will not heal on its own and self-treatment or delay is likely to prolong the healing period. Meniscal surgery is probably the most common method of treatment.
Treatment of a torn meniscus
Your doctor will probably prescribe non-steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain caused by a meniscal tear.
If the pain persists or even worsens after the injury, if you have impaired limb function, or if you have had a meniscal tear in the past, your doctor may recommend an arthroscopy. This procedure involves inserting a special device into the joint cavity, which allows the joint to be examined from the inside and, if necessary, the cartilage to be sewn back together or removed.
The meniscal tear surgery is not complicated - a few small incisions are made with an arthroscope and the operation itself usually takes no more than an hour.
After the meniscal tear surgery, the patient is advised to protect the joint, to use special exercises and physiotherapy treatments while walking , and to USE the shoulder .
If the meniscus tear is not treated in time, the pain will start to bother the joint not only when the joint is under load, but also at rest.
If your doctor decides that surgery is not necessary, you can relieve the pain on your own. First of all, avoid putting any strain on the knee joint, lifting heavy objects or engaging in physical activity - the knee joint needs rest. When lying down, place your sore leg on a pillow or other object to keep it slightly elevated to reduce swelling. Cold will help to relieve the pain effectively - wrap the injured knee with a bint and apply ICE BALLS and keep it that way for at least half an hour.
Buy a special KNEE SURROUNDER to give stability to the knee joint and improve blood circulation to help relieve pain and swelling of the knee joint. It is good if the splint has the ability to lock the angle of flexion and extension.
