In the article, we consider in what cases there is a rupture of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.
One of the most complex structures of the bony parts of the human body has joints, both small and large. The structural features of the knee joint allow it to be considered susceptible to various injuries such as bruises, fractures, bruises, arthrosis. A complex injury such as rupture of the horn in the medial meniscus is also possible.
This is due to the fact that the bones of this joint (tibial, femoral), ligaments, patella and menisci, working in a complex manner, ensure proper flexion when sitting, walking and running. However, excessive loads on the knee, which are imposed on him during various manipulations, can lead to a violation of the integrity of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. This is such a trauma to the knee joint, which is caused by damage to the cartilage layers located between the tibia and femur.
Anatomical features of cartilage of the knee joint
Let us consider in more detail how this structure is structured.
The meniscus is the cartilaginous structure of the knee, which is located between the closing bones and ensures the sliding of the bones one on the other, which contributes to the unhindered extension of this joint.
The structure of the knee joint includes menisci of two varieties. Namely:
- medial (internal);
- lateral (external).
Obviously, the most mobile is the outdoor. Therefore, its damage is much less common than internal damage.
The medial (inner) meniscus is the cartilage pad associated with the bones of the knee joint, located on the side from the inside. He is not too mobile, therefore subject to damage. Rupture of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus is also accompanied by damage to the ligamentous apparatus, which connects it to the knee joint.
Visually, this structure is similar to a crescent moon, the horn is lined with porous fabric. Cartilage gasket consists of three main parts:
- front horn;
- middle part;
- back horn.
Cartilages of the knee joint perform several important functions, without which full-fledged movement would be impossible:
- depreciation in the process of walking, jumping, running;
- stabilization of the knee at rest.
These structures are penetrated by many nerve endings that send information about the movements of the knee joint to the brain.
Meniscus functions
We will examine in more detail what functions the meniscus performs.
The joint of the lower limb refers to the combined structure, where each element is called upon to solve certain problems. The knee is equipped with menisci that divide the joint cavity in half, and perform such tasks:
- stabilizing - the time of any physical activity, the articular surface is shifted in the right direction;
- acts as shock absorbers, to mitigate bumps and shocks during running, walking, jumping.
Injury to shock absorbing elements is observed during various joint injuries, in particular, due to the loads that these joint structures take on. In each knee joint there are two menisci, which are made up of cartilage tissue. Each type of shock-absorbing plates is formed by horns (front and rear) and the body. Shock absorbing components move freely in the process of motor activity. The bulk of the damage is associated with the horn of the medial meniscus.
The causes of this pathology
The most common damage to cartilage plates is tear, absolute or partial. Professional dancers and athletes, whose specialty is sometimes associated with increased loads, can be injured. Injuries are also observed in the elderly, arise as a result of unforeseen, accidental loads on the knee.
Damage to the horn body occurs for the following reasons:
- excessive sports loads (jumping, running over rough terrain);
- active walking, prolonged sitting position;
- articular pathologies of a chronic nature, in which the development of the inflammatory process in the knee region occurs;
- congenital articular pathology.
These factors lead to trauma to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus of varying degrees of complexity.
The stages of this pathology
Symptoms for trauma to cartilage elements depend on the severity of damage to the cartilage tissue. The following stages of violation of the integrity of the horn are known:
- Stage 1 (mild form) of damage to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, in which the movements of the damaged limb are normal, the pain syndrome is weak, becomes more intense during jumps or squats. In some cases, slight swelling is observed in the patella.
- 2 degree. The posterior horn of the medial meniscus is significantly damaged, which is accompanied by intense pain, and the limb is difficult to unbend, even with outside help. You can move at the same time, but the patient is limping, at any moment the knee joint may be immobilized. Swelling is gradually becoming more pronounced.
- Damage to the posterior horn of the 3rd degree medial meniscus is accompanied by pain syndromes of such strength that it is impossible to tolerate. The most painful is in the patella area. Any physical activity during the development of such an injury is impossible. The knee increases significantly in size, and the skin changes a healthy color to cyanotic or crimson.
If the posterior horn of the medial meniscus is damaged, the following symptoms are present:
- The pain intensifies if you press the cup from the back and at the same time extend the leg (Bazhov's technique).
- The skin in the knee area becomes too sensitive (Turner's symptom).
- When the patient is lying down, then under the injured knee joint passes the palm (Land syndrome).
After establishing a diagnosis of damage to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus of the knee joint, the specialist decides which therapeutic technique to apply.
Features of horizontal tearing of the back horn
Features are as follows:
- with this kind of tear, trauma occurs, which is directed to the joint capsule;
- swelling develops in the area of the joint gap - a similar development of the pathological process has common symptoms with damage to the anterior horn of the outer cartilage;
- with partial horizontal damage, excess fluid accumulates in the cavity.
Meniscus tear
In what cases does this happen?
Injury to the knee joints is a fairly common occurrence. Moreover, such injuries can be received not only by active people, but also by those who, for example, have been squatting for a long time, trying to spin on one leg, and make various jumps in length and height. Tissue destruction can occur gradually over time, with people over 40 years old at risk. Damaged knee menisci at a young age gradually begin to become chronic in the elderly.
Damage can be very varied, depending on where the gap is observed and what shape it has.
Meniscus Tear Shapes
Cartilage tears can be different in shape of lesion and nature. In modern traumatology, the following categories of gaps are distinguished:
- longitudinal;
- degenerative;
- oblique;
- transverse;
- rupture of the horn;
- horizontal type;
- tear of the front horn.
Rupture of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus of the knee joint
Such a gap is one of the common categories of knee injury and the most dangerous damage. Similar damage also has some varieties:
- horizontal, which is also called a longitudinal rupture, with it there is a separation of tissue layers from each other with subsequent blocking of knee movements;
- radial, which is such a damage to the knee joints, with it oblique transverse ruptures of the cartilaginous tissue develop, while the lesions are in the form of tatters (the latter, westward between the bones of the joint, provoke cracking in the knee joint);
- combined, containing damage to the (medial) inner part of the meniscus of two varieties - radial and horizontal.
Symptoms of Injury
How this pathology manifests itself is described in detail below.
Symptoms of the resulting trauma depend on the form of pathology. If this damage is acute, then the symptoms of injury can be as follows:
- acute pain syndrome, which manifests itself even in a calm state;
- tissue hemorrhage;
- blocking knee activity;
- swelling and redness.
Chronic forms (chronic rupture), which are characterized by the following symptoms:
- pain during physical exertion;
- cracking in the knee joint during movement;
- accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint;
- tissues with arthroscopy are stratified, similar to a porous sponge.
We learn how to treat a rupture of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.
Therapy of cartilage lesions
In order for the acute stage of the pathology not to become chronic, it is necessary to start treatment immediately. If you are late in conducting therapeutic procedures, the tissues begin to acquire significant damage and turn into rags. The destruction of tissues leads to the development of degeneration of cartilage structures, which, in turn, provokes the occurrence of knee arthrosis and complete immobility of this joint.
Therapy depends on the degree of injury in case of damage to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.
Stages of conservative treatment of this pathology
Traditional methods are used in acute not neglected stages in the early stages of the pathological process. Conservative therapy consists of several stages, which include:
- elimination of inflammation, pain and swelling with anti-inflammatory non-steroidal agents;
- in cases of "jamming" of the knee, reposition is used, namely reduction through traction or manual therapy;
- medical exercises, gymnastics;
- therapeutic massage;
- physiotherapeutic measures;
- the use of chondroprotectors;
- hyaluronic acid treatment;
- therapy with folk recipes;
- analgesic pain relief;
- application of plaster casts.
What else is the treatment for rupture of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus?
Stages of surgical treatment of ailment
Surgical techniques are used exclusively in the most difficult cases, when, for example, tissues are so damaged that they cannot be repaired, if traditional methods of therapy have not helped the patient.
Operational methods for repairing torn cartilages of the posterior horn consist of the following manipulations:
- Arthrotomy - partial removal of damaged cartilage with extensive tissue damage.
- Meniscotomy - complete removal of cartilage.
- Transplantation - movements of a donor meniscus to a patient.
- Endoprosthetics - the introduction of artificial cartilage into the knee joint.
- Stitching of damaged cartilage (produced with minor damage).
- Arthroscopy - a puncture of the knee joint in two places in order to carry out the following manipulations with cartilage tissue (for example, arthroplasty or stitching).
After the treatment (regardless of whether it was carried out - surgical or conservative), the patient will have a long course of rehabilitation. It necessarily includes absolute peace throughout the course. Any physical activity after treatment is contraindicated. The patient should make sure that his limbs are not supercooling, you can not make sudden movements.
Ruptures of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus of the knee joint are a fairly common injury that occurs more often than other injuries. These injuries can vary in size and shape. Rupture of the horn of the meniscus occurs much more often than its middle part or the front horn. This is due to the fact that the meniscus in this area is the least mobile, and, therefore, the pressure on it during movements is greater.
The treatment of this cartilage tissue injury should begin immediately, otherwise its chronic nature can lead to complete destruction of the joint tissue and its complete immobility.
In order to avoid trauma to the horn, one should not make sudden movements in the form of turns, avoid falls, jumping from a height. This is especially true for people over the age of 40. After treatment of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, exercise is generally contraindicated.