The meniscus is a cartilaginous pad that sits in the knee joint. This structure is located between the thigh and lower leg. The main function that the meniscus performs is cushioning during movement. According to statistics, most of all injuries of the knee joint are associated with a rupture of this cartilage tissue.
Types of meniscus
This organ consists of the anterior and posterior horns, as well as the body. The capillary network forms the red zone, it has the highest density and is located at the edge. The central part - the white zone - has practically no vessels. This is the thinnest place. There are two types of meniscus in the knee joint. External, or lateral, has the shape of a regular semicircle. He is quite mobile, and therefore less likely to be injured. The inner (medial) meniscus is a cartilage in the form of the letter C. Its mobility is much lower. The menisci are held together by a transverse ligament. The peculiarity of this organ is that with age it becomes much thinner.
Functions
The knee meniscus is considered a rather important component of the human musculoskeletal system. First of all, he isshock absorber in the knee when making movements. In this case, there is a restriction of excess mobility. In addition, the meniscus is the protection of the surface of the joint. Another important function is to reduce the friction of cartilage tissue. The meniscus (photo can be seen below) signals the brain about the position of the knee structure.
Meniscus injury
Among knee injuries, problems with the meniscus occupies a leading position. In 75% of cases, damage to the medial meniscus is diagnosed, about 20% are a violation in the work of the external one. Another 5% is allocated to the illnesses of both. Basically, such injuries are received by athletes and people who are engaged in physical labor. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in men. There are situations when damage to the knee joint occurs from a sudden or incorrect movement. And if the lateral grows together relatively well, then damage to the medial meniscus requires thorough treatment.
Types of injuries to the meniscus of the knee joint
There are several types of damage to the cartilage lining. The first type is the tearing off of the meniscus from the attachment points in the paracapsular zone. The next type includes damage to the anterior, posterior horns, as well as rupture of the body. There is also degeneration of the meniscus. If there is excessive mobility or the chronic nature of injuries, then we can talk about another class of damage. A special type is the condition when the cyst affects the meniscus - an injury of this type is characterized by a liquid neoplasm. Arisesmainly as a result of heavy loads. The nature of the damage may vary. There is a complete, incomplete rupture, longitudinal or transverse. Fragmentary injuries are also diagnosed. The knee meniscus can be torn both without displacement and with displacement of the injured parts.
Meniscus cyst
Very often this disease occurs in young people, especially athletes. In this case, the body of the meniscus is filled with liquid. If this condition is not treated in time, a rupture is possible. There are several stages of this problem. At the first time, a cyst can be detected only by a histological method. On the second, a slight bulge is visualized. The third stage is as follows: cysts are formed not only in the meniscus, but also in adjacent tissues. The main cause of neoplasms is a large load on the knee joint. In addition, cysts can appear with repeated damage to the meniscus. The main symptom of this problem is acute pain. An increase in temperature is observed in the area of damage. You can also hear clicking noises when moving. Treatment in the first two stages is conservative. But the third involves surgical intervention.
Symptoms of meniscus injury
Diseases of the knee joint are often similar in their primary symptoms. Only after the acute phase passes, it can be determined that it is the meniscus that is damaged. Injury to such a cartilage pad has a number of symptoms.
- Increased temperature in the affected area.
- Local pain. Directly when injured, it is quite sharp, as well as over the next couple of minutes. Then the pain subsides, and the person can even walk.
- The presence of edema. It usually appears on the second day. If the joint has increased in size, then you should immediately seek medical help.
- Bleeding.
- Limited movement and loss of sensation.
- If the joint bends, you can hear the characteristic sounds.
- The occurrence of inflammatory processes.
These symptoms characterize the fact that the meniscus (photo can be seen above) may be injured.
How the disease is diagnosed
If you suspect that the knee joint is damaged, the meniscus is torn or injured, the following types of diagnostics are used. The doctor may order an ultrasound examination. In some cases, magnetic resonance or computed tomography is performed. At the same time, the composition and size of tissues are studied in detail. X-rays may be taken to rule out a fracture. They also carry out special tests that help to recognize if the meniscus is torn. A special click that can be heard with slight movement helps to identify the problem. Injuries of this type are often diagnosed using a blockade of the joint. To make a diagnosis, it is especially important to describe in detail the history of the origin of the damage.
Arthroscopy
This method is used not only for diagnosis, but also for the treatment of damage to the knee joint. In this case, damage to the skin and tissuesminimum. Micro incisions are made and an arthroscope is inserted into them. On the edge of such an instrument is a small camera that allows you to see the internal structure and what the knee joint looks like. The meniscus, if damaged, can be repaired. If the external meniscus is injured, then small scars are applied using an arthroscope. At the same time, pain is significantly reduced, swelling is removed. Initially, this procedure was available only to athletes. Today it is used quite widely.
Benefits of arthroscopy
This method of diagnosis and treatment is characterized by low trauma. The incisions are up to one centimeter long. Arthroscopy has a small list of contraindications. Basically, it is inflammation of the joint or the presence of an infection. The operation has a very high accuracy due to the optics that are inserted into the joint cavity. A definite plus is less than 0.5% of complications. The rehabilitation period is relatively short, after a week you can return to work if it is not associated with strong physical exertion. Athletes fully restore their strength in 2-3 months, so there is no need to take a big break in your career. In addition, arthroscopy does not leave any cosmetic defects.
Treatment options for the knee meniscus
There are two treatment options for meniscal injury. Conservative treatment is used if there are no significant gaps. Its main purpose is to relieve pain andedema that has arisen. After that, the joint must be fixed. The doctor may prescribe special special pain medications ("Ketorolac" and its analogues). If there is an inflammatory process, then drugs are also needed (Ibuprofen, Nurofen, etc.). In this case, therapeutic exercises are also shown.
If the damage to the knee meniscus is serious, then surgery is indispensable. One of the outdated and ineffective methods is arthrotomy. This procedure involves the complete removal of the meniscus. The main negative consequence after such an operation is the occurrence of arthrosis. A meniscus transplant is also rarely used due to poor survival of the material. The rehabilitation period depends on what kind of manipulations were carried out. If the meniscus has been removed, then crutches will have to be used for a week. Sewing the gap increases the time to 4 weeks. In this case, it is important not to load the damaged knee joint. The shortest recovery period is after arthroscopy. It is best to carry out rehabilitation activities in a hospital. Massage, therapeutic and preventive gymnastics, various hardware procedures help to develop the knee joint.
Timely detection of the problem and the help of a qualified specialist will help preserve all the functions of the knee joint and quickly return to normal life.
