Which is worse medial meniscus tear or lateral?
Is the lateral meniscus tear worse than a medial meniscus tear? It is hard to differentiate what type of tear is worse if it is repairable. However, it is well known that if a lateral meniscus is taken out, the consequences are almost always worse than having a medial meniscus resected.
What type of meniscus tear is worse?
Intrasubstance/Incomplete Tear Degenerative changes are those that happen as a result of wear and tear and get worse over time. Incomplete and intrasubstance meniscus tears are considered “stable” injuries. That means they generally do not require surgical treatment.
Can you tear both lateral and medial meniscus?
There are two menisci in your knee. One is on the inside (medial) and one is on the outside (lateral). Injuries can occur to either meniscus, or sometimes to both at the same time.
How bad is a lateral meniscus tear?
In a severe lateral meniscus tear, the meniscus can be torn in half, ripped around its circumference, or ripped to the extent that it hangs on by a fiber. Patients who suffer a tear of the lateral meniscus may have minor or moderate pain and limited movement of the knee joint.
Why is medial meniscus tear more common?
The medial meniscus is more commonly injured because it is firmly attached to the medial collateral ligament and joint capsule. The lateral meniscus, on the outside of the knee, is more circular in shape.
What is lateral meniscus tear?
The quick answer is that a lateral meniscus tear is an orthopedic injury to the semi-circular cartilage on the outside of the knee joint. Each knee has 2 menisci. They are C-shaped cartilage that cushion and support the knee. They can be injured or torn with twisting or traumatic movements of the knee.
What is lateral meniscus?
The menisci — the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus – are crescent-shaped bands of thick, rubbery cartilage attached to the shinbone (tibia). They act as shock absorbers and stabilize the knee. The medial meniscus is on the inner side of the knee joint. The lateral meniscus is on the outside of the knee.
Why are medial meniscus tears more common than lateral?
What is a Grade 1 meniscus tear?
While this test will show a tear up to 90% of the time, it does not always. If a meniscus tear shows up on a MRI, it is considered a Grade 3. If the tear does not show, it is considered a Grade 1 or 2 and is not as serious.
What is the healing time for a torn meniscus?
It can be treated with conservative ways and surgery. Torn meniscus takes 3 to 4 weeks to three months for recovery depending upon type, extent, and location of the injury and age and activity level of the patient.
How long does it take to recover from a meniscus?
On an average, it takes about 4 – 6 weeks of time for the patient to recover completely from the meniscus surgery. The patient might be placed on crutches for a few days until he regains strength for walking on his own. If the surgery is a minor one, then he might be able to walk on his own.
Is an ACL tear worse than a meniscal tear?
An ACL tear is. Typically worse than a meniscus tear and often they occur together. Acl surgery requires reconstruction of the cruciate ligament using a harvested graft from your patellar tendon or your hamstring most commonly.