Meniscus Tear

Meniscus Tear services offered in Henderson, NV & Las Vegas, NV

A meniscus tear, the second-most common knee injury, causes pain and swelling, and limits or outright stops knee movement. Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center specializes in treating all knee injuries and conditions, including providing customized care for meniscus tears. Don’t wait to get help for knee injuries. Early treatment improves your ability to fully heal and restore optimal joint strength and stability. Call the office in Henderson or Las Vegas, Nevada, or use the online booking feature to request an appointment today.

Meniscus Tear Q & A

What causes a meniscus tear?

The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in your knee that lies between the thigh bone and shinbone. Like all cartilage covering bones inside joints, the meniscus absorbs shock, reduces friction between the bones, and stabilizes the joint.

Meniscus tears most often occur when you twist or rotate your knee. For example, you may tear the cartilage when you suddenly stop running or while quickly pivoting during an activity.

The meniscus also degenerates over years of daily joint movement. As you get older, you can sustain a meniscus tear without excessive force. You might tear the cartilage if you over-rotate your knee while getting up from a chair, as one example.

What symptoms develop if I have a meniscus tear?

The symptoms of a meniscus tear include:

Pain
Swelling
Stiffness
Limited knee movement
Loss of movement (locked knee)
Feeling like the knee will give out
Difficulty extending your knee

You may also have other injuries. Meniscus tears frequently happen at the same time you suffer an ACL tear.

How is a meniscus tear treated?

After finishing a physical exam, your provider may perform diagnostic imaging to determine the tear’s location. In a severe injury, they may recommend arthroscopy so they can closely examine the tissues inside the joint.

The best treatment for your knee depends on the severity of the injury and whether the tear is located in the red zone or white zone:

Red zone treatment

The outer third of the meniscus has a healthy blood supply, which is why it’s called the red zone. Tears that occur in this area usually heal with conservative treatments, such as:

Resting your knee (limiting activities)
Using ice, compression, and elevation
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Getting a steroid injection

Even in the red zone, you could need surgery if you have a severe meniscus tear.

White zone treatment

The inner two-thirds of the meniscus doesn’t have a blood supply. Without blood, the cartilage can’t heal. If your tear occurs in the white zone, you will need minimally invasive knee arthroscopy to trim or repair the cartilage.

If you have symptoms of a meniscus tear, don’t wait to get a complete exam and treatment. Call Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center or book an appointment online today.