The menisci are located in the knee joint, between the lower end of the femur and the upper end of the tibia, and are part of the central part of the knee joint, which is multi-functional and very susceptible to injury.
Meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrous cartilage in the knee joint. There are 2 menisci on each side of the knee joint, called the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus, which is an important part of the knee joint structure, and it has the important roles of enhancing the stability of the knee joint, cushioning the shock, secreting the synovial fluid to lubricate the joint as well as assisting in the completion of the flexion/extension and rotational movements of the lower leg.
Meniscus injuries can be divided into acute and chronic injuries. The former is mostly seen in athletes, where tearing occurs during strenuous exercise; the latter is mostly seen in manual laborers, and is the result of repeated wear and tear over time.
Meniscus blood supply is special, only a small part of the surrounding area contains blood vessels, through the blood absorption of nutrients, the central region of the blood supply, only rely on the synovial fluid to draw nutrients, so it is difficult to heal the meniscus injury, especially the central region of the injury or a complete tear. Therefore, severe meniscus tears often require partial or even complete removal of the meniscus.
If you have a meniscus tear, you need to consult a doctor and follow the doctor’s instructions for proper treatment.