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Meniscal Tears

What is a meniscal tear?

The meniscus is shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee. It lies between the shinbone (tibia) and the thighbone (femur). The meniscus helps distribute weight, makes the knee bend smoothly and moves lubricating fluid around the joint.

When the meniscus tears, it can be painful. If untreated, a tear can also make it more likely your child will develop arthritis.

How do you evaluate a meniscal tear?

At our clinic, we will ask about any pain your child is having. We will then examine your child’s knee, gently applying pressure and moving her foot and leg to check for the discomfort and clicking sounds that signal a meniscal tear. We will also check for swelling in your child’s knee.

If we suspect a tear, we may take X-rays, or ask your child to have an MRI so we can get a better look at the soft tissue in the knee.

In some cases, we may also insert a viewing instrument (arthroscope) that is the width of a pencil into your child’s knee to get a look at the damage on a large monitor that is like a television screen.

Who gets meniscal tears?

Any child can get a meniscal tear. A tear usually happens when an active child or teenager suddenly twists her knee. Sometimes this occurs while children are playing sports that require a lot of pivoting and sudden starts and stops. Meniscal tears often happen at the same time as injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

What is your experience with meniscal tears?

At Children’s Hospital, we specialize in treating injuries to the bones and joints of children and teenagers who are still growing. To decrease the risk of early arthritis, we strive to save and repair the torn meniscus whenever possible.

How do you treat meniscal tears?

Sometimes small meniscal tears heal on their own with rest. But repairing the meniscus with surgery is often the best treatment. It is the quickest way to get your child back to her regular activities, including sports, and it lessens the chances that she will develop arthritis in the future.

Surgery for meniscal tears

At Children’s, we usually use a minimally invasive procedure called arthroscopy to repair meniscal tears. The doctor inserts a tool called an arthroscope that’s about the width of a pencil into your child’s knee. He then uses pictures displayed on a large monitor like a television screen to guide his actions.

The doctor will make a series of small incisions around your child’s knee. The incisions will be just big enough to accept the tools the doctor uses.

Depending on your child’s injury, the doctor may sew the meniscus together, use tiny hooks to attach the torn pieces to one another or pinch the pieces together using a special kind of suture. If the torn pieces are not big enough to stitch together, the doctor may trim the meniscus using tiny scissors, shavers or clippers.

Then he will stitch up the incisions. Often, we use thread that can be absorbed by the body so that you do not have to bring your child to the clinic to have stitches removed.

Learn more about arthroscopy in children and teenagers.

After surgery

After surgery, our rehabilitation specialists will help your child set up a regular program of physical therapy. Our physical therapy programs are designed to help your child recover range of motion, rebuild strength and stability, restore balance and regain confidence in using her knee.

We offer rehabilitation services in our on-site sports lab.