
Skip to main content
close menu
close menu

Search UK HealthCare

Meniscus Tear

A meniscus tear is a common knee injury. The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee. Each knee has two menisci (plural of meniscus)—one at the outer edge of the knee and one at the inner edge. They keep your knee steady by balancing your weight across the knee. A torn meniscus can prevent your knee from working right.

  • Symptoms

    Meniscus Tears

    Meniscus healing zones and types of meniscus tears

    Where a meniscus tear occurs is one of the most important things that affects healing. Tears at the outer edge (red zone) tend to heal well because there is a good blood supply. The inner area (white zone) lacks a good blood supply and therefore does not heal well.

    The type of tear often determines whether a tear can be repaired. Longitudinal tears are often repairable. Radial tears may be repairable depending on where they are located. Oblique (flap) tears and another type called horizontal tears are generally not repairable.

    What are the symptoms of a meniscus tear?

    Symptoms of a meniscus tear, such as pain, depend on the size and location of the tear and whether other knee injuries occurred along with it. Pain can also be caused by swelling and injury to surrounding tissues.

    With small tears, you may have little to no pain at the time of the injury. A little swelling often develops slowly over a couple of days. Many times, people can walk with only a little pain, although pain increases when you squat, lift, or rise from a seated position. These symptoms usually go away, although you may still have pain when you bend or twist your knee.

    In a typical moderate tear, you feel pain at the side or in the center of the knee, depending on where the tear is. Often, you are still able to walk. Swelling usually increases slowly over a few days and may make the knee feel stiff and limit bending. There is often sharp pain when you twist or squat. Symptoms may go away but can come back from overuse or when you do activities that involve twisting. 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. You may not be able to straighten your knee. If other injuries occurred with the meniscus tear, especially torn ligaments, you may have increased pain and swelling, a feeling that the knee is unstable, and trouble walking.

    Older people whose menisci are worn may not be able to recall a specific event that caused a tear, or they may recall symptoms developing after a minor incident such as rising from a squatting position. Pain and a little swelling are often the only symptoms.


  • Causes

    What causes a meniscus tear?

    A meniscus tear is usually caused by twisting or turning quickly, often with your foot planted while your knee is bent. Meniscus tears can occur when you lift something heavy or play sports. As you get older, your meniscus gets worn. This can make it tear more easily.

  • Diagnosis

    How is a meniscus tear diagnosed?

    When checking for a possible meniscus tear, your doctor will ask you about past injuries and what you were doing when your knee started to hurt. He or she will do an exam of both knees to check for tenderness and range of motion and see how stable your knee is. An X-ray is usually done to check the knee bones if you have swelling, if you have pain at a certain place (point tenderness), or if you can't put weight on your leg.

    Your knee may be too painful or swollen for a full exam. In this case, your doctor may remove fluid from your joint and inject a numbing medicine (local anesthetic) into the joint. This might relieve your pain enough that you can have an exam. Or the exam may be postponed for a week while you care for your knee at home using rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

    Your doctor may order an MRI if the diagnosis is not clear. An MRI typically gives a good picture of where the tear is and how severe it is. It also shows the ligaments, cartilage, and tendons.

    Your family doctor or an emergency room doctor may refer you to an orthopedist for a more complete exam. The orthopedist may recommend arthroscopy. It is a procedure used to look at and repair the inside of the knee joint. The doctor inserts a thin tube called an arthroscope through a small cut near the knee joint. The arthroscope has a camera with a light. With the scope, the doctor can see the meniscus and other parts of the knee.

    Knee MRI

    MRI images of torn meniscus


    Figure 1 is a side view of the knee that shows the normal location of the outside, or lateral, meniscus. Figure 2 is a similar view that shows a piece of meniscus that has been torn and moved.

  • Treatment

    How is a meniscus tear treated?

    Your choices for treating a torn meniscus are:

    • Treatment without surgery. This includes resting, using ice, wrapping the knee in an elastic bandage, propping it up on pillows, and doing physical therapy. This treatment choice may include wearing a temporary knee brace.
    • Surgery to sew the tear together.
    • Surgery to remove the torn section of the meniscus.
    • Surgery to remove the entire meniscus.

    There are many things to think about when deciding how to treat a torn meniscus. These things include where the tear is and how serious it is, your pain level, your age and activity level, your doctor's preference, and when the injury happened. The decision about whether to have surgery depends on the kinds of symptoms you have and how bad they are, not just on how big the tear is. You may have a large tear but still decide not to have it repaired.

    Meniscus repair is more successful if:

    • You are younger. Experts think people younger than about age 40 do best.
    • Your knee has good stability from the ligaments.
    • The tear is in the outer edge of the meniscus.
    • The repair is done within the first few weeks after the injury.
  • Self care

    How can you care for yourself when you have a meniscus tear?

    • Rest your knee when possible.
    • Do not squat or kneel.
    • Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
    • Prop up the sore leg on a pillow when you ice your knee or any time you sit or lie down during the next 3 days. Try to keep your leg above the level of your heart. This will help reduce swelling.
    • Follow your doctor’s directions for using crutches or a knee brace, if suggested.
    • Follow your doctor’s directions for exercises to keep your knee mobile and your leg muscles strong. Here are a few exercises you can try if your doctor says it is okay.
      • Quad sets: Lie down on the floor or the bed with your injured leg straight. Fully extend your leg—there should be no or little bend in your knee. Tighten the thigh (quadriceps) of your injured leg for 6 seconds. Do not lift your heel up. Relax your quadriceps for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 8 to 12 times several times during the day.
      • Straight-leg raises: Lie down on the floor or the bed with your injured leg flat and your uninjured leg bent so that the bottom of your foot is on the floor or bed. Tighten the quadriceps of your injured leg. Keeping your knee as straight as possible, lift your injured leg off the bed until it is about 18 inches above the bed or floor. Lower your leg back down and relax for 5 seconds. Do 3 sets of 20 repetitions, or if you tire quickly, 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions.
      • Heel raises: Stand with your feet a few inches apart. Rest your hands lightly on a counter or chair in front of you. Slowly raise your heels off the floor while keeping your knees straight. Hold for 3 seconds, then slowly lower your heels to the floor. Do 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions.
      • Heel slides: Lie down on the floor or the bed with your leg flat. Slowly begin to slide your heel toward your rear end (buttocks), keeping your heel on the floor. Your knee will begin to bend. Slide your heel and bend your knee until it becomes a little sore and you can feel a small amount of pressure inside your knee. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Slide your heel back down until your leg is straight on the floor. Relax for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 20 times.
