Tennis Injuries:

Torn Meniscus
 Meet Louis Gordan
• White Male
• Age 74
Not Actual Patient • Avid Tennis Player
• Good Overall Health
• Injury: Torn Meniscus
 What is a Meniscus Tear?
A meniscus tear is a common knee
joint injury. This rubbery tissue acts as
a shock absorber between the upper
and lower leg bones. Each knee has
two C-shaped menisci; a lateral
meniscus at the outer side of the knee
and a medial meniscus at the inner side
of the knee. A meniscus tear can
greatly limit your knee function.
 How is the Meniscus Torn?
A meniscus tear usually occurs with a
twisting or pivoting motion and often
with the foot planted and the knee
partially flexed (for example, when
lifting or playing tennis). Other knee
injuries, such as a torn ligament, can
happen at the same time. As we age,
our meniscus becomes worn and may
tear more easily.
 What are the Symptoms?
Minor Tears: Pain and slight swelling.
Symptoms last 2-3 weeks.
Moderate Tear: Pain at side or center of
knee. Inability to walk, increased
swelling, limited ROM, sharp pain when
twisting. Symptoms generally
disappear.
Severe Tears: Pieces of torn meniscus
may dislocate into the joint space
and lead to “locked knee,” causing
stiffness and swelling.
 What are Treatment Options?
• Your PCP will decide based on when and where the tear occurred,
and the age, health status, and activity level of the patient.
• Nonsurgical Treatment: R.I.C.E. and physical therapy
• Surgical Repair: Removal of torn section or meniscal repair.
• Small tears located at the outer edge of the meniscus often heal
with rest. Larger tears located toward the center of the meniscus
may not heal well because blood supply to that area is poor. In a
young person, surgery to repair the tear may be the first choice
because it may restore function. Your age and activity level will also
determine whether surgery is a viable option for you. In a young
person, surgery to repair a tear may be the first choice because it
has a greater chance of healing and restoring a more normal
function to the knee. It is generally believed that there is a poorer
potential for healing in older patients, but successful repair of tears
in people older than age 50 has been reported. The most common
risks of surgery include infection, a blood clot in the leg, damage to
nerves or blood vessels, and the risks of anesthesia.
 Risks of Surgery
People over the age of 50 have the
common risks of infection, blood clot in the
leg, damage to nerves or blood vessels,
and the chances of anesthesia.
 Reasons to have Surgery
• Surgical repair may result in
decreased pain and return of normal
function to the knee.
• Without surgery, pain may increase
and persist making it harder to
perform activities of daily living.
• Prevention of long-term
complications, such as joint
degeneration (osteoarthritis), with
successful surgical repair.
Photos of
Surgery