Torn Meniscus

Knee · Shoulder and Sports Medicine

Torn Meniscus

A tear in one of the two cartilage pads that cushion the knee, causing pain along the joint line, swelling, and catching or locking.

Wear of the cartilage that cushions the knee, causing pain with activity, stiffness after rest, swelling and, over years, deformity and loss of function.

Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee pain after fifty deserves a real plan before anyone mentions replacement. A conservative-first lane built by Dr. Hoopes for exactly this patient.

Knee Pain in Older Adults

Arthritis that develops years after a fracture, dislocation or ligament injury damaged the joint surface, often in a younger patient than typical osteoarthritis.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Rheumatoid, psoriatic and other autoimmune arthritis that attacks the joint lining and, over time, destroys the hip and knee joints. Managed with rheumatology; replaced when the joint fails.

Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip and Knee

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Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

Call801-640-0000

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Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330

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What it is

Torn Meniscus

The menisci are two C-shaped pads of cartilage between the thigh and shin bones that absorb shock and stabilize the knee.

A tear is a split in that pad.Tears in young patients are usually traumatic and can often be repaired. Tears in older patients are usually degenerative and behave more like arthritis.

Treated by

Kevin Christensen, MD, Knee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. ChristensenKnee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine

J. Ryan Taylor, MD, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. TaylorShoulder and Sports Medicine

Michael Carlson, MD, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. CarlsonShoulder and Sports Medicine

Jeffrey Wallentine, MD, Joint Replacement surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. WallentineJoint Replacement

or call801-640-0000

Torn Meniscus

Symptoms

Pain along the inner or outer joint line, worse with squatting, twisting and stairs.Swelling that builds over a day. Catching, clicking or a knee that locks and will not fully straighten when a fragment flips into the joint.

Degenerative tears often cause pain without a clear injury.

Common signs

Pain along the joint line

Swelling building over a day

Catching or clicking

Knee that locks bent

See us sooner if

Knee locked and will not straighten

Cannot bear weight

Torn Meniscus

Causes

Twisting on a planted foot, deep squatting, or a sports injury, often alongside an ACL tear.With age, the meniscus dries and frays, and a tear can occur with something as minor as standing from a chair.Degenerative tears are part of the knee wearing, not separate from it.

Torn Meniscus

How We Diagnose It

Exam reproduces joint-line tenderness and pain with specific twisting tests.X-rays show whether arthritis is present. MRI confirms the tear, its pattern and location, which determine whether it can heal.MRI finds meniscus tears in many pain-free older knees, so the exam and X-ray matter as much as the picture.Twisting injuries on singletrack and the slopes, and degenerative tears in hikers over fifty, are both common here. Dr. Christensen, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Carlson and Dr. Wallentine operate at Utah Valley Hospital and Spanish Fork Hospital.

Torn Meniscus

Treatment Options

Degenerative tears without locking are treated first with therapy, activity changes and sometimes an injection; many do as well as with surgery.

Tears that lock the knee, or traumatic tears in younger patients, are treated arthroscopically.Repair is preferred whenever the tear can heal. Otherwise the torn fragment is trimmed to a stable edge.

Your options

Non-surgical

Physical therapy

Activity changes

Injection

Surgical

Meniscus repair

Partial trim

Meniscus Repair

Knee Arthroscopy

ACL Reconstruction

Torn Meniscus

Procedures That Address It

Meniscus Repair

Knee Arthroscopy

ACL Reconstruction

Torn Meniscus

Surgeons Who Treat It

Dr. Christensen, MD

Andrews Institute sports medicine fellowship under Dr. James Andrews. Board certified in orthopedic surgery and orthopedic sports medicine. Fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Taylor, MD

Dual fellowship trained in sports medicine and in shoulder and elbow surgery. Former Division I football player.

Dr. Carlson, MD

Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, elbow, knee, hip and ankle. Published sports medicine researcher. Fourteen years in practice.

Dr. Wallentine, MD

Thirty-four years in practice. Mako robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement. Stanford sports medicine fellowship. BYU athletics team surgeon.

or call801-640-0000

ContactTalk toa real person.

Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

Call801-640-0000

TextSend a text

Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330