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The meniscus is a cartilage cushion between the shinbone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur). It protects and stabilizes the knee joint. Unfortunately, the meniscus can tear with forceful twisting or rotation of the knee and is a very common sports injury.
Meniscus tears are a common overuse injury for young athletes. The common ways this injury can occur include:
Common symptoms related to a meniscus tear are:
To determine if your child has a torn meniscus, our specialists will perform a physical examination, checking for pain along the joint line where the meniscus lies and conducting a test where the knee is bent, then straightened.
To confirm that the meniscus is torn, your child’s doctor may order the following tests:
Meniscus tears come in many types, and some of them can be treated without surgery while others would benefit from surgery in order to relieve symptoms, protect from further damage, prevent arthritis, and get your child back in the game quickly.
Possible non-surgical treatments your doctor may offer or recommend to treat your child’s meniscus tear include:
If the tear does not heal on its own, remains symptomatic despite nonoperative treatment, or is severe enough our physicians believe surgery is the best option for your child, we may recommend arthroscopy to evaluate and treat the tear.
Common at-home treatment options for meniscus tear include:
We provide exceptional care to patients and their families, putting children in the best hands for successful diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.