Meniscus Tears: Common Types

At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic we acknowledge that a meniscus tear can not only be painful but can also impact your game.  Non surgical treatment options are outlined in this video.

The clinical success of stem cell therapy in treating a torn meniscus has been discussed in prior blog.

Meniscus are semilunar shaped cartilage wedges that act as shock absorbers between the thigh (femur) and tibia (shin) bones.  Menisci are triangular shape in cross section. Each covers approximately two-thirds of the corresponding articular surface of the tibia.  There is a medial (inner) and (lateral) meniscus in each knee-joint.

Meniscus tears are noted by how they look and where the tear occurs.

Common tears include longitudinal, bucket handle, flap, transverse and torn horn which are illustrated below.

Successful Stem Cell Treatment of Meniscus tear

Tears in the knee meniscus can cause pain and limit activity.   Menisectomy is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the injured meniscus is removed.    Knee meniscectomies  are not without risk: they can advance the degenerative process, create  instability in the knee,  result in infection and exacerbate pain.

DG is an athletic 41 y/o patient who sustained a complex tear of the knee meniscus while roller blading.  Conservative therapies in the form of PT, massage and chiropractic care failed to reduce his pain which he rated as 4/10 in severity.  He declined surgical options and opted to use his own mesenchymal stem cells through the Regenexx procedure.

On physical examination  DG had  tenderness along the medial aspect of knee along with a loose ACL.  The ACL is a critical ligament in the knee as it prevent forward motion of the shin bone in relation to the thigh bone.  Creating stability in the joint is paramount for optimal clinical success.

DG underwent therapy at the Centeno-Schultz Clinic which included prolotheraopy of the ACL under x-ray along with Regenexx C therapy in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.

Follow-up MRI was significant for ” improved appearance of the known complex tear of the posterior horn medial meniscus”.  This corresponds will his clinical response.  DG notes an 85% improvement in pain and 80% improvement in stability. He recently completed three days of snowboarding and is transitioning from his beach cruiser to a mountain bike.

Below are MRI images of the meniscus tear prior to and following Regenexx C therapy. The picture on the left was taken 9 months before the stem cell injection into the knee meniscus. Note the light areas in the triangle shaped meniscus  represent weak areas and tears. On the left the red arrows identify the complex meniscus tear.  The right picture was taken 22 months after the stem cell injection-note the darker appearance of the meniscus with less of the light areas representing weakness and tears.  The yellow arrows on the right identify the areas of healing with the meniscus.

Nip and Tuck of Meniscus: Advancing The Degenerative Cascade

The knee meniscus is tough fibrocartilage that is positioned between the thigh(femur) and shin bone(tibia).

Each knee has a two meniscus:   lateral and medial.  They are C shaped.

They function as a shock absorber protecting the delicate cartilage in your knee.

Arthroscopic view of knee

Injury can result in a meniscal tear.  There are several different types:  horizontal, radial, oblique and longitudinal.

Surgery is often recommended despite the fact that 60% of meniscal tears are not associated with pain.

Menisectomy is where a portion of the “damaged” meniscus is surgically removed.  While the “damaged” area is removed often patients fail to obtain significant pain relief.  Furthermore studies have demonstrated that menisectomies increase the rate of cartilage loss in the joint.  This make sense since by removing a portion of the shock absorber, the forces of daily living are transmitted to the delicate cartilage.  The cartilage was not intended to bear this increased stress and therefore starts to degenerate.

The use of your own stem cells is now an option for patients with meniscus tears and degenerative changes in the knee-joint.