Meniscal injuries on skis are quite common. What are the symptoms of meniscus damage? How is meniscal injuries treated? Check when physical therapy is enough and when modern methods of meniscus regeneration need to be applied.
A meniscus injurymust not be ignored.Meniscal injuries on skishappen quite often. In the event of a meniscal injury, it is essential to seek the help of an orthopedist. The meniscus is a natural shock absorber. Thanks to the two menisci located between the tibia and the femur, the knee can withstand heavy loads. Today, even damaged menisci are reluctantly excised, because a knee joint that is removed wears out quickly, to such an extent that 15 years after the removal of the meniscus, it is suitable for endoprosthesis implantation. That is why damaged menisci are repaired, regenerated or transplanted.
Meniscal injuries: symptoms
- pain on the lateral or medial side of the knee, increasing with or immediately after exercise
- limitation of the range of motion of the knee - problem with straightening or bending ("blocking") the knee
- swelling as a result of excess fluid build-up in the joint
- crackles
- jumping in the knee
- feeling of instability
Meniscal Injury: Diagnostics
If you have these symptoms, apply a cold compress to your leg and see a doctor who examines e.g. by performing various manipulations with the knee, it can diagnose an injury. The final verdict is made after performing ultrasound of the meniscus (in the case of the medial meniscus lying on the inside of the knee) or magnetic resonance imaging, when the less visible outer meniscus is damaged. Pain can be caused by overloading, rupture or even crushing the meniscus.
Meniscal Injury: Treatment
When the meniscus hurts, but it is intact, physical therapy is usually applied - cryotherapy, laser and magnetic field treatments. A cracked meniscus sometimes regenerates itself - this applies to small horizontal cracks. In the case of vertical or extensive cracks, the doctor stitches the meniscus. Today it is done using an arthroscope. The doctor introduces tools into the joint and repairs the damaged meniscus by suturing it or fusing it with biosolublehooks. Arthroscopically, a damaged meniscus is also repaired with collagen patches. The technique of tissue engineering of menisci can also be used. A meniscus-shaped implant made of collagen or polymers is placed in place of the damaged meniscus, on which multi-potential cells (undifferentiated cells that can become any tissue) taken from the patient's blood are "planted" on it. After about a year, the polypotential cells recreate the meniscus tissue and replace the implant, which dissolves after three years.