What is meniscus surgery?
meniscus surgery It can be one of the most complex surgeries to be performed on a patient's knee. Depending on the situation and each case, different surgeries can be applied such as: meniscal suturing, partial resection or meniscectomy and meniscus transplants.
Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries. next to the anterior cruciate ligament, especially among athletes. It is caused by a break or tear of the fibrocartilage, which acts as cushioning between the tibia and the femur, known as meniscus. When this happens, the option for cure is arthroscopic knee surgery.
The meniscus has a fundamental function in the knee joint, since it helps distribute weight in the joint and directly affects its stability.
Symptoms of a possible meniscus tear
To detect whether or not we have suffered a meniscus tear, the symptoms that we can identify are very significant and similar to those of the anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Firstly, when the break occurs we will notice a dull, sharp pain in the knee area, which will subsequently prevent us from recovering its mobility partially or completely. This immobility and joint weakness will prevent the patient, in many cases, from carrying out usual activities, including walking in some stages of the break.
Furthermore, after the pain there is usually an inflammation in the knee, which causes it to increase its volume.
Causes why you can suffer a meniscus tear
Like the anterior cruciate meniscus tear, the factors by which a meniscus tear can occur are varied. However, they all have a single precedent in common: a sudden movement of the knee.
In some cases, however, it does not depend so much on the suddenness of the movements, but may be due to degenerative causes. In these cases, the meniscus tear is caused by cartilage wear. This usually occurs in patients with degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis or osteoporosis.. These breaks are common in older people.
On the other hand, traumatic breaks are distinguished, which are caused by a sudden impact on the joint, as we mentioned at the beginning.
There are also other types of meniscus tears known as mechanical tears, which are due to poor posture or arrangement of the joint, which causes it to malfunction. ANDThese types of breaks are more common among athletes.
How is a meniscus tear treated?
Existing treatments
One of the most effective and generally applied treatments for meniscus tears is knee physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Once the operation has been performed on the patient, a physiotherapy treatment after surgery to rehabilitate the joint.
This treatment focuses on exercises to regain the strengthening and stability of the joint, with the aim that the patient can recover their usual activities with as quickly and normally as possible.
Some of the techniques used in physiotherapy are the release of adhesions from the joint tissues and draining massages for the evacuation and reabsorption of inflammatory fluid.
Benefits of our treatments
- Help the patient in their recovery, preventing them from falling into a sedentary lifestyle that causes them to lose muscle capacity.
- Speeds up recovery time after surgery
- Strengthens the joint again
- Promotes the recovery of mobility and stability of the leg
As we explained, physical therapy treatment for a meniscus tear can be very beneficial for the patient, however, it is important choose a suitable professional to help us in this recovery process.