The meniscus is the cartilage pads that are located in the knee joint. This structure is located between the thigh and lower leg. The main function that the meniscus performs is cushioning when moving. According to statistics, most of all injuries of the knee joint are associated with a rupture of this cartilaginous tissue.
Types of meniscus
This organ consists of the front and rear horn, as well as the body. The capillary network forms a red zone, it has the highest density and is located at the edge. The central part - the white zone - has virtually no vessels. This is the thinnest place. There are two types of meniscus in the knee joint. The outer, 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. Menisci are attached to each other using a transverse ligament. The peculiarity of this body is that with age it becomes much thinner.
Functions
The knee meniscus is considered a rather important component of the musculoskeletal system of a person. First of all, it is a shock absorber in the knee when making movements. In this case, excess mobility is limited. In addition, the meniscus is the protection of the surface of the joint. Another important function is to reduce the friction of cartilage. The meniscus (photo can be seen below) signals the brain about the position of the knee structure.
Meniscus injury
Among the injuries of the knee joint , meniscus problems occupy a leading position. In 75% of cases, damage to the medial meniscus is diagnosed, about 20% constitute a malfunction in the external. Another 5% is allocated to both diseases. Basically, such injuries are experienced by athletes and people who engage in physical labor. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in men. There are situations when damage to the knee joint occurs from a sharp or improper movement. And if the lateral fusion is relatively good, then damage to the medial meniscus requires thorough treatment.
Types of injuries of the meniscus of the knee
There are several types of damage to the cartilage pad. The first type is the separation of the meniscus from the attachment points in the paracapsular zone. The next type includes damage to the front, rear horns, as well as rupture of the body. There is also meniscus degeneration. If excessive mobility or the chronic nature of injuries is observed, then we can talk about another class of injuries. The condition when a cyst affects the meniscus is referred to a special kind - an injury of this type is characterized by a fluid neoplasm. It occurs mainly as a result of heavy loads. The nature of the damage may be different. There is a complete, incomplete gap, longitudinal or transverse. Fragmented injuries are also diagnosed. The knee meniscus can be torn both without displacement, and with the displacement of the injured parts.
Meniscus cyst
Very often this disease occurs in young people, especially athletes. In this case, the meniscus body is filled with liquid. If this condition is not cured in time, then a rupture is possible. There are several stages to this problem. At the first, a cyst can be detected only by the histological method. On the second a small 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 are large loads on the knee joint. In addition, cysts can appear with repeated damage to the meniscus. The main symptomatology for this problem is acute pain. In the area of damage, an increase in temperature is observed. You can also hear clicks when making movements. The treatment in the first two stages is conservative. But the third involves surgical intervention.
Symptoms of meniscus damage
Diseases of the knee joint are often similar in their primary symptoms. Only after the acute phase passes, can it be determined that the meniscus is damaged. Injury to such a cartilage pad has a number of symptoms.
- Fever in the affected area.
- Local pain. Directly upon injury, it is quite sharp, as well as over the next couple of minutes. Then the pain weakens, and the person can even walk.
- The presence of edema. Usually it appears on the second day. If the joint has increased in size, then you should immediately seek medical help.
- Bleeding.
- Restriction of movement and loss of sensitivity.
- If the joint bends, then you can hear the characteristic sounds.
- The occurrence of inflammatory processes.
These symptoms characterize the fact that the meniscus (photo can be seen above) is possibly injured.
How is a disease diagnosed?
If you suspect that the knee joint is damaged, the meniscus is torn or injured, the following types of diagnostics are used. Your doctor may order an ultrasound scan. In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. In this case, the composition and size of the tissues are studied in detail. To exclude the presence of a fracture, radiography can be performed. Special tests are also conducted to help identify if the meniscus is torn. A special click that can be heard with slight movement helps identify the problem. Injuries of this type are often diagnosed using joint blockade. For the 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 injuries of the knee joint. In this case, damage to the skin and tissues is minimal. Micro incisions are made, an arthroscope is inserted into them. At the edge of such an instrument is a small camera that allows you to see the internal structure and how the knee joint looks. The meniscus, if damaged, can be cured. If the external meniscus is injured, then small scars are applied using an arthroscope. At the same time, pain is significantly reduced, swelling is relieved. Initially, such a procedure was available only to athletes. Today, it is used quite widely.
Benefits of Arthroscopy
This method of diagnosis and treatment is characterized by a slight trauma. The cuts are up to one centimeter long. Arthroscopy has a small list of contraindications. This is mainly inflammation of the joint or the presence of 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 regain their strength in 2-3 months, so there is no need to take a long career break. In addition, arthroscopy does not leave any cosmetic defects.
Treatment options for the meniscus of the knee
There are two treatment options for meniscus damage. Conservative treatment is used if there are no significant gaps. Its main focus is the removal of pain and swelling that arose. After this, the joint must be fixed. The doctor may prescribe special special painkillers (Ketorolac and its analogues). If there is an inflammatory process, then medications are also necessary (Ibuprofen, Nurofen, etc.). In this case, therapeutic gymnastics is also indicated.
If the damage to the knee meniscus is serious, then surgery is indispensable. One of the obsolete 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. Meniscus transplantation is 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. Stitching the gap increases the time to 4 weeks. It is important not to load the injured knee joint. The shortest recovery period is after arthroscopy. It is best to carry out rehabilitation activities in a hospital. Massage, therapeutic exercises, various hardware procedures help to develop the knee joint.
Timely detection of the problem and the help of a qualified specialist will help to maintain all the functions of the knee joint and quickly return to normal life.