Meniscal tears Flashcards
what is usually the cause of meniscal tears in younger people
sporting injuries or getting up from the squat position
what can cause meniscal tears in older patients
atraumatic spontaneous degenerate tears, can occur from middle-age onwards
what other soft tissue problem often has a meniscal tear associated with it
ACL rupture, around 50% have associated meniscal tear
what clinical features are seen with meniscal tears
pain + tenderness localised to the joint line, +ve meniscal provocation tests(unreliable)
what side, medial or lateral, of meniscal tear is more common
medial 9/10 times more common
what type of imaging is used to investigate a suspected meniscal tear
MRI
what different types of meniscal tear can occur (4)
longitudinal tear, bucket handle tear, radial tear, parrot beak tear
what types of meniscal tear will not heal
radial tear
what part of the meniscus has a blood supply, and describe the healing ability of the meniscus
only the peripheral 1/3rd has blood supply and the healing potential is limited
are the majority of meniscal tears repairable or irrepairable
irrepairable
what type of tear and patient is considered for arthroscopic meniscal repair treatment
acute traumatic peripheral meniscal tears in younger patients
what type of tear is considered for arthroscopic meniscectomy treatment
irreparable tears with recurrent pain, effusion or mechanical symptoms which fails to settle
what is meant by mechanical symptoms when talking about meniscal tears
any clicking, catching or locking
what clinical feature suggests a bucket handle meniscal tear
acute locked knee
describe how common degenerate meniscal tears are
common, around 1 in 5 people over 50 have degenerate meniscal tear on MRI
