Island Orthopaedic Consultants
Sports Medicine & Surgery
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-Knee -Ankle -Shoulder -Elbow -Hip -Wrist Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Arthroscopic Stabilisation Of The Unstable Shoulder Acromio-Clavicular Joint Arthritis Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair |
Meniscus
Tears The
meniscus is a C-shaped piece of fibrocartilage located in between the thigh and
leg bones, cushioning the joint surface from excessive wear and tear. There are
two meniscii in each knee, the medial meniscus, and the lateral meniscus.
Appropriate treatment really depends on the symptoms and severity of the tear.
If the tear is large, and especially if the knee is locked, surgery is required
to treat the tear. This is done arthroscopically and the meniscus can be sewn
back in place if the injury is in an area with a good blood supply. Most
young adults are able to return to active sports after meniscus repair.
If the tear is in an area with a poor
blood supply, a small portion of the meniscus will have to be removed to even
the surface. In some cases, the entire meniscus may have to be removed. This is bad news as osteoarthritis is
more likely to develop in the knee if the meniscus is removed. The loss of
cushioning function increases the contact pressure on the joint surface
exponentially and the cartilage gets worn down prematurely. The guiding principle for meniscus
surgery is repair if possible and conserve at all times. What
are the latest advances in the treatment of meniscus loss? The permanent solution to the loss of
meniscus is to replace it. Unfortunately, our meniscus does not regenerate, just
like our adult teeth. To replace the lost meniscus a procedure
called a meniscus allograft transplantation can be performed where the surgeon
replaces the meniscus with one from a cadaver. The missing meniscus can also be
replaced with an artificial graft made from collagen. The collagen acts as a
frame for a new meniscus to grow over.
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