Meniscus Tear
As you walk, run and jump, each of your knees is cushioned by two cartilage wedges called menisci. Each meniscus helps keep your thigh bone (femur) from directly bumping your shin bone (tibia) where they meet in your knee.
When you experience a bad twist of the knee or overextend it, a meniscus can be torn. This can happen in certain sports, especially when you plant your foot and pivot. It can also happen from non-contact events, like an odd twist as you get up from a chair.
As we get older, meniscus tears can be more common because the cartilage starts to wear. Left untreated, a meniscus tear can lead to chronic pain and/or instability of the knee.
That’s why it’s important to see a knee specialist as soon as you experience a knee injury. Your orthopedic doctor’s exam and imaging, if necessary, are key to understanding the type and severity of your meniscus tear and whether it is combined with any other knee injury.
Meniscus treatments
Adventist Health Portland’s sports medicine team includes doctors with extensive training and experience in treating knee injuries. They work closely with rehabilitation specialists to make sure you have a treatment program that addresses all your needs and goals.
During your first appointment, we’ll go over your history, your passions and activities, your plans and goals, and your hopes for recovery. Together we will craft a treatment plan customized for your needs.
Because part of each meniscus has a good blood supply and part doesn’t, where your tear is located indicates how well your meniscus is likely to heal without surgery.
Nonsurgical treatments may include:
- Rest and ice
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Rehabilitation and education
When meniscus surgery is needed, our knee specialist can remove the torn tissue or suture the tear, depending on the extent and location of the injury. This is typically performed as arthroscopic surgery, which uses small incisions and tiny instruments to perform the surgery with minimal impact on the knee.
Schedule your visit
Whether your knee injury is new or old, our sports medicine team can help. Just call us today at (503) 261-6961 or use our online form to request an appointment.