Meniscus tears are, by themselves, one of the most common knee injuries but often occur with others like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. At Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, orthopedic surgeon Ronald Hess, MS, DO, and his team repair meniscus tears for athletes using high-resolution arthroscopy equipment when conservative treatments won’t lead to effective healing and pain relief. To schedule your evaluation, call any of the three offices in Oxford and West Chester, Ohio, or book an appointment online today.
The meniscus is a part of your knee and often vulnerable to injury within the joint. You have two menisci per knee; they act as shock absorbers between the thigh bone and the bones of your shin.
Rubbery fibrocartilage composes the menisci, which makes them resilient to the everyday pressures of walking, standing, and running. However, they can tear because of certain sudden movements or become weaker and worn down with time.
A meniscus tear is an injury that happens to the menisci within the knee. Acute meniscus tears, which occur suddenly, usually happen while playing sports or engaging in physical activity of some sort.
As you get older, you become more prone to degenerative meniscus tears. These could happen very easily and unexpectedly, like when you’re getting out of the car or squatting down to pick up something you’ve dropped.
You’ll probably realize right away that something is wrong if you tear your meniscus. Most people report feeling a notable pop, but you might still be able to walk.
For several days after a meniscus tear, the symptoms become more pronounced. Your symptoms might include:
To diagnose your injury and decide whether or not you need surgery, Dr. Hess performs a basic physical examination at Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. Using imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging, he can view and assess the tear.
Treatment for a meniscus tear starts with conservative options and only involves surgery if initial treatment attempts are ineffective. Your initial treatments include rest, heat and ice therapy, physical therapy, and possible steroid injections.
Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offers meniscus tear repair surgery if you need it. Dr. Hess typically uses arthroscopic surgery for meniscus tear repairs because it does not require large incisions and therefore carries less risk for scarring and bleeding.
During arthroscopic meniscus repair, Dr. Hess makes tiny incisions called portals in the knee and threads a long, thin camera with a light on the end through one of them to see the inside. He uses small surgical tools through the other incisions to trim off damaged meniscus tissue and repairs the tear with sutures.
A meniscus tear repair with rehabilitation can get you walking and playing sports again. To set up your meniscus tear evaluation and treatment consultation, call Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine or schedule an appointment online today.
