Last update:
You are : Knee
> Menisci
Menisci
There are two menisci in each knee, the medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus. They are cartilaginous elements within the knee joint which serve to protect the ends of the bones from rubbing on each other and to effectively deepen the tibial sockets into which the femur attaches. They also play a role in stabilizing the knee and in shock absorption. A meniscus lesion does not jeopardize the stability of the knee as long as the ligaments remain intact, but it can lead to arthrosis later on.
Either or both may be cracked, or torn, when the knee is forcefully rotated and/or bent, this can happen in many circumstances (practice of sport, a fall, racing, rapid walk, brutal standing up from a squat position etc.) or after an excessive use of the knee without evident trauma. In these circumstances, the meniscus, medial or lateral can be cracked or torn. This tear can cause knee pain, a swelling of the knee can appear in result of an effusion, it can provoke a stiffness preventing a normal mobility of the knee.
Some lesions can occur without being trauma related, they are a consequence of the aging of the meniscus. This has to be on one's mind when a patient of a certain age started to complain of internal knee pain. The evolution of pain follows a a cycle, with painful episodes followed by an apparent relieving before occurring again with the same symptoms. It is a pretty hard diagnosis to make that is usually supplemented by other examinations such as Xrays, MRI. Sometimes, these lesions can be related to a wearing of the cartilage of the femur and tibia, this is the arthritis. It is important to mention if the cartilage is affected because this can provoke residual pain, and can sometimes get worse after the ablation of the meniscus.
