A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that is often sustained by athletes participating in contact sports. In many cases, it is accompanied by further injury to the knee such as an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear. A patient who sustains a meniscal tear is likely to experience “popping,” locking and catching in the knee joint, along with general knee instability, pain, stiffness and swelling. Small tears and those that are at the outer edge of the meniscus may be treated non-surgically with rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) along with anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and aspirin. Knee arthroscopy may be recommended for patients whose pain and knee instability continue well after the initial injury occurred. Here, the surgeon may perform a partial meniscectomy where damaged tissue is trimmed from the location to allow the tear to heal properly. Alternatively, he or she may need to repair the meniscus by sewing it back together with sutures. This operation requires a longer recovery time.
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