Meniscus, popularly known as a disease that manifests itself with significant knee pain and swelling, is actually the name given to the cartilage-like fibrocartilage structures located between the knee joints. Tears that occur in these structures due to various reasons are defined as meniscus injuries.
There are two menisci in each knee, C and O shaped, one internal and the other external. Menisci are extremely important, protective structures for the normal function of the knees. Until 40-50 years ago, the function of the meniscus was not known and was considered unnecessary. In case of even minor injuries, menisci were surgically removed. Nowadays, the discipline of orthopedics gives importance and priority to treatments that will take care to protect these structures as much as possible in meniscus injuries.
WHAT DO MENISCUS INJURIES OCCUR?
Meniscus helps the joint cartilage in the knee to function healthy and It protects the knees from overload. When the meniscus is absent or does not function properly, the loads are placed directly on the joint cartilage. This leads to osteoarthritis.
The most common problem in knee injuries is meniscus tears. Unbalanced loading of our body weight on the knees during heavy physical activity or accident-like traumas can cause menisci to tear with sudden pressure.
Meniscus injuries are a common problem experienced by athletes. However, meniscus injuries may also occur in those who have to lift heavy loads due to their job, those who stand for long periods of time, those who do housework intensively, and elderly individuals.
We can list the main meniscus causes as follows:
- Suddenly collapsing,
- Rotation of the knee as a result of trauma,
- Bending or stretching the knee too much,
- Sports that involve knee movements such as football, tennis, basketball. doing,
- Lifting weights,
- Small injuries to the cartilage recurring and turning into problems,
- Weakening and wear of the meniscus due to advanced age,
- Congenital structural problems.
MENISCUS TEAR SYMPTOMS OF MENS
The most common symptom of meniscus injuries is pain. Pain felt when the knee is touched or with the slightest knee movement is a symptom of a meniscus tear.
However, knee pain may not occur immediately after the tear occurs. In fact, people who do not feel pain despite the tear can continue the physical activity that causes the problem. In such cases, over time, joint balance deteriorates, joint fluid increases, and swelling and pain manifest themselves severely.
In addition, swelling and stiffness in the knee, locking of the knee and therefore difficulty in bending or flexing the knee, sudden stinging. feeling is among the important symptoms of meniscus tear.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF THE MENISCULE
To diagnose meniscus injuries, the doctor first performs a physical examination and checks your knee movements and the areas where you feel tenderness. In addition, by asking you to walk and bend, it detects the positions in which your pain level increases and decreases.
After that, imaging methods such as x-ray and MRI are requested to confirm the diagnosis.
To see the inside of the knee, the characteristics of the tear. Arthroscopy is used to identify and treat. A camera device called an arthroscope is placed on the knee through a small incision.
With the arthroscopic meniscectomy method, the inside of the joint is visualized and problematic meniscus parts are removed or tears are repaired. In this procedure, which is performed under local anesthesia and takes approximately 30 minutes, patients can be discharged on the same day.
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