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If you have knee pain, knee swelling, difficulty fully straightening or bending the knee, or a cracking sound in the knee joint, these symptoms may be warning signs of a torn knee meniscus. A meniscus tear is not caused only by accidents. Exercise, sports, an incorrect twisting movement, or a slip and fall can cause meniscus problems in people of all genders and ages. If neglected, it may eventually lead to cartilage wear and knee osteoarthritis.
Get to Know the Knee Meniscus
The knee meniscus plays an important role in the body by absorbing impact forces on the knee—whether standing, walking, running, jumping, or doing various daily activities. It is an elastic tissue located between the shinbone (tibia) and the thighbone (femur), on both the inner and outer sides of the knee. It also helps increase knee joint stability.
The knee meniscus has a relatively limited blood supply. If a tear occurs, its ability to self-repair is limited, reducing its shock-absorbing capacity. This can cause knee instability and may ultimately lead to knee osteoarthritis.
Recognizing Symptoms of a Torn Knee Meniscus
For meniscal tear injuries, patients often notice abnormalities that clearly affect daily life. Common warning signs that should be taken seriously include the following:
- Knee pain, often worse with use or with positions that involve deep knee flexion, such as squatting
- Knee swelling, which may occur immediately after injury or come and go depending on activity
- Knee catching; inability to fully straighten or bend the knee
- Knee locking, stuck in a certain position
Diagnosis and Treatment of a Torn Knee Meniscus
To evaluate and diagnose a torn knee meniscus, a sports medicine physician will order an MRI scan and then recommend initial treatment, including:
- Resting the knee joint
- Reducing the risk of further injury
- Cold compresses, leg elevation, and anti-inflammatory medication
- If the tear is severe, the doctor will recommend arthroscopic knee surgery, which is the standard of care. It results in smaller incisions, less injury to muscles and surrounding structures, and faster recovery.
Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair Surgery
The knee meniscus is essential for shock absorption. Therefore, arthroscopic surgery to repair the meniscus in cases of a tear is necessary to reduce pain, enable full return to knee function, exercise, or sports performance, and help reduce the chance of future knee osteoarthritis. However, if it is left untreated for a long time, or if the tear is in an area with limited blood supply, meniscus repair may not be possible. The doctor will then recommend arthroscopic surgery to trim the meniscus.
Advantages of Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair
Arthroscopic knee surgery causes less injury to surrounding tissues and shortens operative time when performed by a sports medicine specialist. With modern arthroscopic equipment and small instruments, the surgeon can better repair meniscal tears in various areas. It reduces the risk of complications such as knee stiffness. After surgery, recovery can be faster with less pain; an anesthesiologist provides appropriate pain control, and a physical therapy team closely provides ongoing care immediately afterward to strengthen muscles and to train appropriate weight-bearing and knee range of motion. In some cases of severe meniscal tears requiring repair, the doctor will advise avoiding weight-bearing on that leg together with avoiding deep knee bending for 4–6 weeks.
Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair Surgery with Less Pain and Faster Recovery at the Sports and Exercise Medicine Center, Bangkok Hospital
A torn knee meniscus may not be life-threatening, but if neglected, it can affect quality of life and lead to irreversible knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, if you have abnormal symptoms suspected to be a meniscal tear, it is recommended to promptly see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. The Sports and Exercise Medicine Institute (BASEM), Bangkok Hospital, is ready to provide care with a specialized multidisciplinary team for both surgical and non-surgical treatment, including minimally invasive surgical technology that supports faster recovery, and is prepared to care for patients of all ages with comprehensive bone health rehabilitation and assessment services.
- Find a doctor: https://www.bangkokhospital.com/th/bangkok/doctor
- Make an appointment: https://www.bangkokhospital.com/th/bangkok/appointment/step1
- Contact us: https://www.bangkokhospital.com/th/bangkok/contact
Physician Experienced in Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair Surgery
CDR Dr. Pornthep Mamanee, RTN Orthopedic Surgeon, specialized in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Bangkok Hospital
