Meniscus Injuries
Anatomy
The medial and lateral menisci are C-shaped wedges of cartilage located between the condyles of the femur and tibia. The menisci help to stabilise the knee joint, distribute forces coming through the knee and to reduce friction in the joint.
Mechanism of Injury
- Twisting movement with the foot planted eg. pivoting.
Symptoms
Common to medial and lateral meniscal injuries:
- ‘Locking’ or ‘catching’ of the knee joint.
- Sometimes there is an effusion.
- Restriction of range of motion.
Medial Meniscus Injuries:
- Pain of the medial side of the knee joint occurs during and after exertion.
- Pain in the area of the medial joint line occurs during hyperextension and hyperflexion and also on turning the foot and lower leg outward when the knee joint is flexed.
Lateral Meniscus Injuries:
- Pain in the lateral aspect of the joint occurs in connection with exertion of the knee joint. In many cases the pain appears consistently after a specific amount of exertion.
- Pain in the area of the lateral joint line occurs on hyperextension and hyperflexion of the knee and also on internal rotation of the foot and the lower leg in relation to the femur when the knee joint is flexed to 70°-90°.
Treatment
Please consult with your medical professional for a complete diagnosis and treatment plan.