Medial Meniscus Tear

A common injury pattern combines rotation of the knee with a planted foot. This movement places stress on the cartilage on the knee’s inner side and can disrupt it. Age-related weakening provides a different pathway, allowing a tear to develop without the same twisting event. These mechanisms help clinicians connect symptoms with the likely cause.

These symptoms can occur when disrupted meniscal cartilage interferes with normal knee movement. Pain and swelling may accompany the mechanical sensations, while catching or locking suggests that movement is not occurring smoothly. Because several symptoms can appear together, clinicians interpret them alongside the injury history and physical examination rather than relying on one symptom alone.

The meniscus normally helps distribute load, absorb shock, and support joint stability. A tear can therefore affect more than comfort at the injury site, potentially contributing to persistent dysfunction if the problem does not resolve. This functional role explains why treatment aims not only to reduce symptoms but also to support recovery and knee performance.

Evaluation begins with the medical history, including how the knee was injured and what symptoms followed, and a physical examination. Magnetic resonance imaging can then help define the extent of the cartilage disruption. Using these sources together gives clinicians both clinical context and structural information when characterizing the injury.

Management may begin with activity modification and physical therapy rather than an operation. These approaches support recovery while addressing the functional effects of the injury. The overview identifies them as part of the treatment range, so conservative care is an established option for managing symptoms and reducing the likelihood of persistent knee dysfunction.

Surgical management can include arthroscopic repair or partial meniscectomy, placing these procedures at the operative end of the treatment range. Repair and partial removal represent different surgical approaches to the disrupted cartilage, while activity modification and physical therapy provide nonsurgical alternatives. Clinicians use the assessment, including imaging findings, to define the injury before selecting management.