Meniscus - Meniscus tear - Meniscus injury

Meniscus damage (knee injuries)

The meniscus tear at the knee caused by wear or accident is one of the most common knee injuries of all. The meniscus damage itself is actually not painful. However, due to the damaged meniscus, the knee loses its shock absorbing function between the upper and lower leg. A medical examination is strongly recommended.

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Injuries to the meniscus and knee

The knee joint is our largest joint and is exposed to many stresses and strains in everyday life. The knee joint, the cruciate ligaments and the meniscus are particularly at risk from unnatural, high rotational loads.

Almost 1/3 of all sports injuries affect the knee joint. Sports such as football, rugby, soccer, handball, skiing and tennis or squash, in which the knee is rotated under stress, are particularly risky. The knee joint, the joint cartilage, the cruciate ligaments or the meniscus can be injured.

Complex knee joint injuries often lead to combined damage to the cruciate ligaments, meniscus and joint cartilage up to knee arthrosis.

The outer and inner cruciate ligaments and the meniscus ensure the mobility and stability of healthy knee joints.

Meniscus and meniscal injuries

The meniscus (menisci) anatomically comprises two crescent-shaped, elastic cartilage discs, which are located on the inside and outside of the knee joint between the femur and the head of the tibia.

With every step, the meniscus acts as a "shock absorber" in the knee joint and enables even pressure transmission. The meniscus thus protects the joint cartilage and degenerative changes in the joint, including age-related knee arthrosis.

Traumatic and degenerative meniscus tear

The meniscus injury is the most common injury to the knee joint. A distinction is made between the traumatic and degenerative meniscus tear.

The traumatic meniscus rupture occurs suddenly, usually through an atypical rotational movement with simultaneous flexion of the knee joint, as often happens in sports. The patient feels pain in the knee joint. This is associated with painful joint blockages or a hanging and clicking in the knee joint.

The degenerative meniscus rupture often occurs insidiously in older patients, without a special event or injury, because the tissue dries out with increasing age and loses elasticity.

Diagnosis and therapy

The diagnosis of a meniscus injury is made by a joint examination. If necessary, imaging MRI procedures (magnetic resonance imaging) and knee endoscopy (arthroscopy) complete the examination of a meniscus injury.

Basically, a torn meniscus can be treated conservatively (physiotherapy, relief and medicinal pain therapy) or surgically in the course of arthroscopy.

Surgery for torn meniscus

The severely injured meniscus tissue has a poor self-healing potential. Because the meniscus protects the joint cartilage, the damaged tissue should be preserved with a meniscal suture whenever possible. A complete removal of the meniscus should be avoided in any case in order to prevent later knee arthrosis.

The aim of meniscus surgery is therefore to preserve as much healthy meniscus tissue as possible and to remove the diseased tissue or supplement it with an implant.

Meniscus surgery is performed as an inpatient procedure, under anaesthesia and by means of arthroscopy.

Cruciate ligament and cruciate ligament injury

The outer (anterior) and inner (posterior) cruciate ligament are located (crossed) centrally in the knee. The cruciate ligaments guide the joint during roll-sliding, flexion and extension. Together with the collateral ligaments and the meniscus, they are the stabilizers of the knee joint.

In combination with the specially shaped joint bodies and the menisci, they give the knee joint guidance in any position and protect the joint cartilage from wear and tear and knee arthrosis.