The actions of the knee are additionally cushioned because of the menisci, that are positioned contained in the joint. It’s about two pads of fibrocartilaginous tissue, exhausting and elastic, which serve to disperse the friction between the tibia bone and the femur and to distribute the hundreds and weight of the physique.
Following a trauma, or as a result of degenerative causes, these buildings can injure and even break. On this article we’ll see the way it occurs and what are the signs of a damaged meniscus, after having deepened the anatomy.
Meniscus: what it’s, the place it’s and what it’s used for
The menisci act to disperse the load of the physique and cut back the friction between the femoral condyle (the a part of a bone that enters a joint) and the tibial one throughout motion of the knee, conserving it steady. I am fibrocartilaginous buildings ‘C’ formed concave on the prime and flat on the backside and articulate with the tibia. Since they’re on this place, they operate as a sort of bearing between femur and the tibia, stopping the 2 bones from touching instantly. They’re hooked up to the small depressions (referred to as intercondylar pits) between the condyles of the tibia and are thicker on the surface whereas tapering in direction of the middle.
Every meniscus is made up of 1 central portion (referred to as physique) and from two extremes referred to as anterior horn And rear horn. Relying on the place they occupy contained in the knee, they’re referred to as medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus.
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Medial meniscus
The medial (or inside) meniscus has the form of a crescent and constitutes the cartilage of the knee, along with the articular cartilage and the lateral meniscus. It’s positioned between the medial condyle of the femur and the medial condyle of the tibia.
Lateral meniscus
The lateral meniscus has a virtually round form. It’s positioned above the higher floor of the tibia and the Wrisberg’s ligament is hooked up to its posterior portion, which connects it to the lateral epicondyle of the femur.
Sorts of meniscus accidents
Among the many commonest accidents to the knee there may be exactly these affecting the meniscus, which might be injured in a roughly severe approach because of the following components:
- traumatic occasion
- put on as a result of repeated actions (construction already broken)
- degenerative causes.
In individuals who play sports activities, the meniscus usually breaks when trauma happens, involving a wholesome construction. Nonetheless, it might probably additionally occur for causes degenerativeOn this case, the stress happens when harm is already current, and subsequently the resistance is decrease than in a wholesome meniscus.
In each instances, the breakdown could also be attributable to a direct trauma, that’s, with an overload brought on by a robust strain, or, a rotation motion. It’s also essential so as to add that rupture of the meniscus is probably the most severe situation, however instances of harm of the meniscus which should even be handled promptly and with the assist of specialised medical personnel.
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Meniscus tears will also be divided in keeping with the localization of the issue. We are able to subsequently have on this case:
- the breaking of the anterior horn
- the lesion of the rear horn
- the lesion of the physique of the meniscus.
Lastly, an additional classification takes under consideration the course and look of the lesion, which might subsequently be:
- longitudinal: the wound is a lower that follows the course of the crescent. If left untreated, the lesion widens: on this case it’s referred to as “bucket deal with“.
- radial: the break creeps like a wedge from the perimeter in direction of the middle of the meniscus. If uncared for, it might probably lengthen and take the type of a parrot beak.
- horizontal: the wound, horizontal contained in the physique, typically degenerates and the tissue opens.
Ruptured meniscus: signs of this harm
The rupture of the meniscus results in the looks of some signs that may be simply acknowledged and that require a fast intervention. Signs range in keeping with the kind of harm: in instances of traumatic ruptures, the joint is swollen and stiff and the particular person warns extreme ache, which often worsens over the course of two to three days from the time of the meniscus rupture. On the similar time, the swelling additionally will increase, making any motion very troublesome.
The ruptured meniscus, subsequently, presents these signs normally on the similar time. Nonetheless, if not handled promptly, it might probably degenerate and progressively compromise the capabilities of the joint and / or contain different buildings, corresponding to ligaments, within the harm. It isn’t unusual, the truth is, {that a} traumatic occasion causes the up to date meniscus and cruciate harm.
AndreyPopov / gettyimages.it
Infected meniscus: what are the signs?
Not all the time, nonetheless, following a trauma the meniscus suffers a severe harm, however it will also be solely infected. The signs, on this case, are primarily represented by a painful situation of the knee, which it might probably accompany swelling. A affected person with these situations may have issue strolling and can expertise discomfort and ache when shifting the joint.
In these instances, it’s a good suggestion to relaxation and apply ice, which helps cut back irritation. It’s all the time advisable, nonetheless, to seek the advice of your physician, who might prescribe anti-inflammatory and painkilling medication, in addition to additional exams to confirm that the trauma has not broken the fibrocartilage buildings.
Following traumas that contain the knee joint and might lead, in probably the most severe instances, to the rupture of the meniscus, the physiotherapist is the reference determine to get well after the harm and return to dedicate himself to every day actions, together with sports activities. Rehabilitation, the truth is, is key, and because of this it may be helpful to judge insurance coverage how Physiotherapy of UniSalute, which let you use them shortly and at advantageous costs.
