The menisci are extremely important anatomical structures of a normal knee. They serve to absorb vibrations and therefore to the proper functioning of the knee for many years. They are very often injured in the general population and of course more often in athletes.
“Meniscus ruptures are divided into traumatic and degenerative. There are also traumatic ruptures in degenerative soil. All meniscus tears lead to pain, difficulty walking, hydrothorax (swelling) and often knee stiffness. Thus, the patient is forced to seek the help of a specialized orthopedist in sports injuries.
The specialist will take a complete history from the patient, request an MRI and possibly a plain X-ray of the knee. The correct assessment of a patient does not only include the recognition of the magnetic rupture. Other equally important elements are:
• The presence of bone swelling on MRI,
• assessment of the inner and outer meniscus roots,
• assessment of the condition of the knee cartilage,
• the coexistence of other lesions (eg ligaments, rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, etc.),
• the assessment of the knee axis (neck or rib),
• the clinical examination and the condition of the corresponding hip,
• the age as well as the desired quality of life and activity of the patient.
In recent years the importance of meniscus preservation has been fully recognized. Thus, the suturing of the menisci and of course according to the indications is decided and performed more often by the specialized Orthopedic Surgeon and Arthroscope. In the past, total or superficial meniscectomy was very common. It is now very rare, as better and better materials and techniques have already been developed worldwide.
Rescuing the function of the meniscus is now the reality and that is where the modern Orthopedist, who specializes in sports injuries, should aim. Special reference should also be made to “syndrome after meniscectomy”, Which mainly concerns non-athletes and older patients. In this group of patients, who develop pain after arthroscopic, partial meniscectomy, physiotherapy and intra-articular injections are very important for pain relief. If these conservative measures fail, osteotomies around the knee (femur and tibia) also have a place in the orthopedic surgeon’s quiver.
He writes o:
Mr. Konstantinos Intzoglou, MD, MSC, PhD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Director of the 1st Orthopedic Clinic – Sports Injuries, Arthroscopy and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Metropolitan General
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