Meniscus Tears

What is the meniscus?

Each knee has two pieces of cartilage, one on each side of the knee, called the meniscus. They act as shock-absorbing pads, cushioning the impact between the thigh and shin bones, and they allow you to move and stretch the knee and change directions when moving.

What can cause the meniscus to tear?

Any movement where you twist or rotate your knee, especially when putting your full weight on the knee, can tear your meniscus. When the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee is torn, the meniscus is often torn at the same time.

What are the symptoms of a torn meniscus?

• Pain, especially when twisting your knee
• Swelling or stiffness
• A catching, popping, or locking sensation
• Feeling like your knee is shifting or giving out while playing sports or exercising  

How do we treat meniscus tears at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health?

Minor tears may heal on their own with rest. Larger tears are less likely to heal on their own and may tear even further. To treat large tears, we use minimally invasive surgery to sew the meniscus back together. Physical therapy is essential to bridge the gap between surgery and returning to sports. Patients with ACL tears are likely to development meniscus tears in the future, and for this reason, reconstruction of the ACL may reduce the risk of future meniscus tears.

One key factor with meniscus tears is the risk of future arthritis, and this is one of the reasons we work to repair the meniscus to support long-term joint health.

At Stanford, several of our doctors conduct research on pediatric knee anatomy, helping them better understand meniscus tears and develop more effective treatment methods for growing kids.