Meniscus Tear​

Cartilage is a firm, rubbery covering at the end of bones that prevents them from painfully rubbing against each other. It acts as a shock absorber and also secures certain joints to keep them steady. 

Two special C-shaped cartilages located between your thighbone and shinbone, support the knee joint and are referred to as Menisci. They assist in the distribution of nutrients to nearby structures as well. In any situation, if your knee is forced to twist or rotate when your foot is firmly placed on the ground, it leads to the most common knee injury known as “meniscal tear”.  

In the younger age group, menisci are quite resilient to damage. An exception in children is the presence of a disc shaped meniscus instead of two C-shaped ones in the knee which is more prone to injury. Aging (above 30 years) is a risk factor as the menisci weaken and may succumb even to squatting or walking on an uneven surface. Certain degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis also make the menisci vulnerable. Vice versa, an injured knee has a greater chance of developing osteoarthritis, if unstable and left unhealed. 

When to seek expert advise

In any case of trauma it is prudent to get a medical consult. If you experience the above mentioned symptoms, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine Service Line at The Aga Khan University Hospital for expert evaluation. Also if over a period of time your symptoms don’t improve or get worse, you can always revisit our highly trained professionals.​

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