arthroscopies

Knee Pain and Torn Meniscus

By Aaron Rossi, Central Illinois Orthopedic Surgery

here are an estimated 465,000 knee scopes (arthroscopies) performed in the United States each year. A large majority of the scopes are done for treatment of meniscus tears. The menisci are located in both knees. They are C shaped pieces of cartilage that act as cushions in both knee joints. One piece of the cartilage is located outside (laterally) and the other is located inside (medially) in the knee joint. The meniscus helps

minimized even though the complications are very rare. The possible complications are infection and blood clot formation. The success of the procedure is correlated to the patients age and underlying condition. If there is significant arthritis within the knee joint the procedure may not be as successful. One study showed that around 35 percent of patients over 50 years of age have meniscus tears, but the tears are not causing any pain. This is significant because knee pain may be diagnosed as a torn meniscus based on the MRI results, but something else, such as osteoarthritis, is causing the pain. If this is the case, then surgery will not solve the problem. Meniscal injuries are very common among people of all ages, both athletes and non-athletes. The treatment can be conservative or surgical depending on the individual situation. Surgery usually leads to complete recovery, especially for those who are under 50. As with any medical condition, its important to consult your physician to get an accurate diagnosis and discuss your treatment options. For more information, you may contact Central Illinois Orthopedic Surgery at 309-662-2278 or www.ciosortho.com. Their office is located at 1505 Eastland Dr., Suite 220 in Bloomington. Dr. Keller and Dr. Nord have been providing orthopedic care to the Bloomington-Normal area for over 30 years.

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absorb weight within the knee joint during impact. They also help with stability during movement. The menisci are typically torn due to twisting or direct trauma to the knee joint. The typical symptoms are locking, catching, clicking, giving way, and pain in the affected knee. A thorough medical history and physical examination needs to be completed in order to help point to the correct diagnosis. A plain X-ray is typically taken, but if this is negative, then an MRI is ordered of the affected knee. The MRI scan is typically the gold standard test for diagnosis of a meniscus tear. There has been some debate in the last several years over the treatment of meniscus tears. Several clinical studies support treatment with a cortisone injection into the affected knee, followed by physical therapy and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). A second option is to undergo surgery. The surgical procedure is done arthroscopically on an outpatient basis. A knee arthroscopy is done with two small 1 cm medial and lateral knee joint line incisions. A scope with a camera and light are placed into one porthole. The second porthole is occupied by a small 4mm shaver. The camera displays the internal knee compartment on a screen for the surgeon to view. The shaver is used to trim the frayed or torn meniscus to make the area smooth. This prevents the locking, catching, and friction in the knee joint which is what produces a large majority of pain and inflammation. Meniscal repair surgery is generally very successful. Patients pain is eliminated or diminished and they can usually return to their pre-injury activities after a six-week recovery period. It is important that the patient goes to physical therapy three times a week during the recovery period. The seriousness of this procedure must not be

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August 2013 Bloomington Healthy Cells Magazine Page 29