Meniscus - rupture, treatment, rehabilitation

A rupture of the knee joint meniscus is a common occurrence. This cartilaginous shim stabilizes the knee joint, being a shock absorber - a layer between the knee bones. There are two such meniscuses in the knee. One of them is internal, and the other is in the outer area. By distributing the mass of the body, they ensure the stability of the joint. In case of damage to an organ such as a meniscus, a rupture produces abnormalities in the functions of the knee.

Meniscus - the gap, what are the causes of this pathology? Most often occurs with twisting movements of the knee joint. With age, the cartilaginous pad wears out and the likelihood that the meniscus may be damaged increases accordingly .

The rupture can happen with excessive load. For example, there were cases when a woman, left without a man's help, sharply charged herself with all domestic chores and received similar damage. Such a pathology also occurs in sportsmen, the so-called "sports trauma".

What is characteristic of an organ such as a meniscus, the rupture in its outer region heals faster, and in the inner one it is slower. This is because the external area is better supplied with blood.

Symptoms

The symptomatology depends on the type of pathology from which the meniscus has suffered. The rupture is slight accompanied by mild pain and slight swelling. In this case, the symptoms pass independently in two or three weeks.

The moderate severity of the meniscus - tearing causes, respectively, more severe pain. The swelling continues to increase for several days. The knee is thus constrained, movements in the joint are difficult. When trying to squat or twist, there may be acute pain.

After a week or two, the symptoms can also go away without treatment, but may also return due to stress.

Some people mistakenly believe that you can neglect an organ such as a meniscus. Severe rupture can, however, lead to the penetration of meniscus fragments into the periarticular space. The knee can be jerky, there is a pronounced stiffness. The joint is wobbly, it can suddenly bend, straightening the leg is hard.

Puffiness and pain in the knee joint most often indicate that a meniscus rupture is possible. With any of the above symptoms, medical help is highly desirable. Understand that this is your health and you are responsible for it in front of you.

When examining your knee, the expert finds out the cause of the onset of symptoms. You will be able to talk about your studies directly at the time of the onset of pain. Tell me about the injuries that were suffered earlier. Usually in such cases, an X-ray is done.

A more detailed examination, if necessary, is performed by an orthopedic surgeon. In this case, a more distinct picture of the rupture will be revealed by passing the corresponding tests designated by the specialist.

Treatment

To determine the choice of a method of treatment for a meniscus rupture, experts take into account a number of factors. This is the area of the rupture, the severity of the injury, the type of pathology, the age factor, the level of activity of the patient.

The treatment itself can consist of the following:

• Part of the meniscus in some cases is deleted promptly.
• Conducting reconstructive surgery.
• Purpose of physiotherapy.
• Applying ice, applying a bandage of elastic, rest.

The operation is expedient for large, severe lesions in the center of the meniscus. However, sometimes this method of recovery may not be effective enough. But it, perhaps, is most suitable for restoration of functioning of a joint. At the same time, the percentage of positive results is higher in young people.

Rehabilitation after surgery for meniscus is a complex of special exercises, walking and rest. The rehabilitation period takes time depending on the type of operation.