Knee Meniscus Tear Injuries

Knees contain inside, or medial meniscus, and outside, or lateral meniscus.

Knees hard cartilage layers conform to at the end of the thigh, or femur, the shape, and tibia, or shin bones, that the medisci separate.

The role of the menisci is to distribute evenly the weight across the bones of the leg, and help keep stable the knee joint.

Normally, there is swelling, pain, and restricted movement within a knee when a meniscus develops into a tear.

There are two chief reasons for tears in meniscus. Usually, they are a result of degenerative issues for knee meniscus tear injuries in elderly adults, which can result in brittle cartilage that can be easily torn.

Traumatic injuries which cause meniscus tears are usually when the knee becomes bent before becoming twisted. This is quite common in cases of personal injury such as the following: vehicle collisions, slip and falls, and accidents on a construction site.


A tear can occur anytime there is in the knee a forceful twist, which can cause the end of the femur against the tibia to grind, and causing the meniscus to be damaged between them.

The following symptoms may be the result: swelling; popping noise; pain when running or walking for longer durations of time; and locking or buckling.

If there is suspicion of a torn meniscus, a doctor will administer on the knee if physical examination. Physicians will examine motion range and make an evaluation of areas of tenderness.

To confirm there is a tear, physicians may also utilize a MRI.

Torn meniscus treatment can depend on a patient, and the severity of the injury. Some individuals opt not to have surgery, and attempt to enable knee meniscus tear injuries to heal with anti-inflammatory treatments, like elevation and ice, and rest.

If the tear is large or results in movement and pain issues, however, surgery is usually required.


There are a few options of surgery which are used, but that depends on severity of the tear. Surgeons, in the past, removed the whole meniscus.

This may assist the patient for the current time; normally, however, this can lead to subsequent additional problems.

With the advancement of arthroscopic surgery, there have been an increase in options. Depending on the severity of a meniscus tear, many options are available to get the patient back in shape within a few months.

Due to the injury, however, even with the surgery, down the road, additional problems may arise. Some individuals, later in life, will go on to have complete knee replacements.

In an accident, if you sustained a torn meniscus or some type of knee injury, you are apt to have legal rights, which will entitle you to recovery of damages for sustained injuries.

An individual who sustained a knee injury may receive compensation for the following: time lost from work, disability, and medical expenses, such as physical therapy, surgery, medication, orthopedic care, and emergency room treatment when the knee meniscus tear injuries result in ongoing problems.

Contact us for a free consultation or call Anzalone Law Firm PLLC, at: 603.548.3797.