Meniscus tears

Alternative names:

injury - knee - meniscus; knee injury - meniscus; tear - meniscus

Symptoms:

• a "pop" noted at the time of injury
• joint tenderness may be noted
• knee pain
  • often perceived as being located in the space between the bones
  • worse when gentle pressure is applied to the joint (palpation)

• recurrent knee-catching

Signs and tests:

A physical examination shows signs of torn meniscus. This includes various manipulations of the joint.

• In the McMurray's test the health care practitioner will have you lay on your back while holding the heel of your injured leg with your leg bent. Pressure is placed on the outside of the knee with the practitioner's other hand, and the leg is straightened with the foot turned in (internally rotated). Pain, or a click over the middle of the joint indicate a middle (medial) meniscal tear.
• With an Apley's compression test the health care practitioner will have you lay on your back with your knee bend to 90 degrees. The practitioner will grab your foot with both hands and rotate it to the outside (lateral rotation) while a downward force is applied to the foot. The practitioner's knee and thigh may be used to stabilize your thigh. Pain in the middle of the joint may indicate a middle (medial) meniscal tear.
• A ballottement test for synovial effusions (joint fluid leaking) is positive, indicating swelling with fluid around the joint. This is a physical examination test that allows the practitioner to detect the presence of fluid in a body space.

Other tests that show meniscus tears may include:

• a knee MRI
• a knee joint X-ray