The most common symptoms of a torn meniscus include: Feeling or hearing a pop in your knee. Instability in your knee or feeling like it might give out.
A test is considered positive when a click is felt over the meniscus as the knee is brought from full flexion (completely bent) to 90 degrees.
Posted on: 27-Feb-2023. The McMurray test is a physical examination doctors use for knee injuries. A positive McMurray test means a person likely has a meniscal tear.
Swelling. Catching or locking of the knee joint. Inability to fully extend or bend the knee joint. Limping.
The pain often is worse during twisting or squatting motions. Unless the torn meniscus has locked the knee, many people with a torn meniscus can walk, stand, sit, and sleep without pain. Other people find that the torn meniscus prevents them from participating comfortably in their usual daily activities.
You will have a physical examination to find out if you have a torn meniscus and to rule out other knee injuries. Your doctor will check both knees for tenderness, range of motion, and knee stability. X-rays are usually done. Based on your symptoms and the physical examination, your doctor may diagnose a meniscus tear.
For lateral meniscus tears McMurray is the most sensitive, specific, and accurate test with the largest positive predictive value and likelihood ratio. For tears in anterior cruciate ligament, medial and lateral menisci, together, joint-line tenderness is the most sensitive and McMurray is the most specific.
The pain may come and go over a period of years if the tear isn't treated. Larger tears usually cause more pain and immediate swelling and stiffness. Pieces of the torn meniscus can float into the joint space. This can make the knee catch, pop, or lock.
Management and Treatment
RICE stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Rest: Keep your weight off the injured knee as much as possible. Ice: Place an ice pack on your knee for about 20 minutes, several times a day. Compression: Wrap your knee with a compression bandage to help reduce swelling.
Although knee braces do not heal or treat your meniscus tear directly, they can provide extra support and stability for your knee while your meniscus injury heals. A good brace will protect your knee and take the pressure off your meniscus, allowing it to rest.
Pain is usually felt in the knee above the meniscus while bearing weight on the affected knee and/or when twisting, turning, or pivoting on the knee, such as while getting in and out of a car. Walking up or down stairs may be particularly painful, and may also cause increased swelling in the knee.
Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard, first choice for investigation of suspected meniscal tears.
Imaging tests
But X-rays can help rule out other problems with the knee that cause similar symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This uses a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of both hard and soft tissues within your knee. It's the best imaging study to detect a torn meniscus.
The most common problem caused by a torn meniscus is pain. This can be very severe with a combination of an ache and also sharper pains. The pain can be very bad at night. In the majority of cases it improves over six weeks and is much better at three months, although may last longer.
Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery.
Knee instability and locked knee symptoms, including the knee locking up during normal movement, are all common following a meniscus tear. During the initial trauma, many individuals report not only feeling a pop in the knee, but to also hearing an audible popping sound.
Often you will feel pain and tenderness in your joint, especially when you touch your knee with slight pressure.
You should not put all of your weight on your leg if it hurts or if your doctor tells you not to. Rest and self-care may be enough to allow the tear to heal. You may need to use crutches. Afterward, you will learn exercises to make the muscles, ligaments, and tendons around your knee stronger and more flexible.
Avoid positions and activities that place excessive pressure on knee until pain and swelling resolve. Problematic positions include squatting, pivoting, repetitive bending (eg, climbing stairs, rising from seated position, operating clutch and pedals), jogging, and swimming using the frog or whip kick.
Over time, a meniscus tear may become more severe and cause further damage if left untreated. Further, certain activities may cause symptoms to flare up. Some patients might find it difficult and painful to climb stairs, or even to get out of bed.
You may need surgery to restore full knee function. Untreated meniscus tears can increase in size and lead to complications, such as arthritis.
Ordinarily, your doctor or physical therapist will ask you to reduce your sports activities while your meniscus tear heals. Healing could take between four and eight weeks. However, the time depends on the severity and position of the tear.