Meniscus is part of the knee joint, which is the most vulnerable to trauma. Meniscus is a special cartilaginous pad that serves as a shock absorber. It is he who helps to stabilize such a complex mechanism as the knee joint. When we move, the meniscuses in the knee joint contract, while changing their own shape. That's why with a meniscus injury you will be limited in movement.
Types of Meniscus
There are only two types of meniscus, each of which performs its function and is subject to varying degrees of danger:
- External, or lateral meniscus . This meniscus is quite mobile, so it is less prone to injury.
- Internal, or medial meniscus . This meniscus is a very fragile part of the knee: it is not too mobile and is attached directly to the lateral ligament of the joint, which often causes them to suffer simultaneously.
Most of the complaints of pain in the knee are associated with the injuries of the medial meniscus. In case of injury, all the functions that a healthy meniscus perform suffer. This is the stabilization of the joint, and amortization of movements, and a uniform load distribution. That is why in case of a knee injury, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor, rather than self-medicate.
Potential trauma to the meniscus
Meniscus is a fairly fragile part of the knee joint, which can be susceptible to a wide variety of injuries. For example, tearing, tearing, bifurcating, inflammation. Most often, the inflammation of the meniscus arises against the background of frequent flexion and extension of the joint, while the other types of injuries are usually caused by a sharp impact on the joint, and not systematic.
Of course, with such injuries, people whose occupations are connected with the movement are better than anyone else: football players, dancers, climbers, basketball players.
Symptoms of a meniscus injury
You are unlikely to confuse the sensation of a meniscus injury with anything else, because the symptoms are rather sharp:
- sharp cutting pain;
- rapidly increasing edema;
- quite loud clicks when moving the joint;
- the slightest movements bring acute pain;
- some movement does not work.
If you have all these symptoms - immediately contact someone for first aid. A pressure bandage is required on the joint, the tires on the shin and the thigh. Immediately after this, you should immediately call your doctor for help.
Meniscus of the knee joint: treatment
Depending on what kind of injury you have received, further treatment will take place in different ways. For diagnosis, the doctor is more likely to suggest that you pass a magnetic resonance imaging, according to which the doctor will determine how to treat the knee meniscus. There are only two ways:
- Conservative treatment of the meniscus . If the hip is not significant, you will be given a medication that is designed to help the meniscus recover quickly. During the entire time, while you are undergoing treatment, you must wear a knee
or gypsum bandage. - Surgical intervention . If the case is quite serious, and the patient has a knee joint, a strong meniscus fracture, a hemorrhage into the joint cavity - surgery is necessary. In the course of her surgeon either sews a torn meniscus, or, if this is not possible, will perform a meniscus replacement.
Even if you are offered surgery - do not be afraid. Any movement with such a trauma can further exacerbate the situation, but the operation can solve your problem. Probably, after a while you can go back to sports, but you need to understand that the recovery period will be quite long.