Meniscus Tear: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries. Any activity that forcefully twists or bends the knee under full body weight can cause a meniscus tear.

Meniscus tears typically occur during sports activities but can also result from age-related degeneration. Common symptoms include knee pain, swelling, and a locking sensation. Diagnosis is usually made through physical examination and MRI.

The treatment approach depends on whether the tear is repairable. If repair is possible, early arthroscopic meniscus repair is recommended. If the tear is not suitable for suturing and does not initially require surgery, conservative treatment is started — including physiotherapy for muscle strengthening, PRP, PRP derivatives, and exosome injections.

Op. Dr. Utku Erdem Özer plays a leading role in managing meniscus tears with a patient-centered approach and personalized treatment options.

What Is the Meniscus?

Each knee has two menisci: one on the inner (medial) side and one on the outer (lateral) side. They are cartilage-like, crescent-shaped structures with the firmness of an ear and serve as shock absorbers.

Their primary function is to protect the joint cartilage between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) by distributing load and reducing stress on specific areas of the knee joint. This function prevents joint degeneration and reduces pain.

Key Functions of the Meniscus:

1. Load Distribution: The meniscus increases the contact area between the femur and tibia, spreading loads evenly across the joint and preventing localized stress.

2. Joint Protection: It minimizes contact pressure on the cartilage surfaces, allowing smooth and pain-free knee motion and delaying cartilage wear.

3. Joint Stability: By improving congruity, it contributes to knee stability and reduces stress on ligaments.

4. Lubrication: It helps maintain joint lubrication and reduces friction.

Meniscus tears are among the most frequently seen injuries in orthopedic practice. Acute meniscus tears occur in approximately 60 out of every 100,000 people annually — with higher rates among athletes and manual laborers.

One of the most common orthopedic procedures worldwide is arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, performed when the tear is irreparable. This surgery allows rapid pain relief and return to daily activities.

What Causes a Meniscus Tear?

Meniscus tears often result from sudden, forceful knee movements. Sports like football, basketball, and tennis carry higher risks. Sudden impacts or twisting motions can lead to tears.

Common Risk Factors:

• Sudden twisting during sports

• Excessive weight bearing on the knee

• Age-related degeneration of the meniscus

• Direct trauma to the knee

How Does a Meniscus Tear Happen?

In younger and active individuals, most meniscus tears are traumatic — caused by sudden stops, twisting movements, or rapid changes in direction.

In middle-aged and older adults, degenerative tears occur due to tissue wear and aging. These tears may result from simple activities like squatting or kneeling.

What Are the Symptoms of a Meniscus Tear?

• Pain: Felt along the joint line, and depending on the tear location, may be in the front, side, or back of the knee. It often worsens while squatting.

• Swelling: Acute tears often lead to joint effusion (swelling). In contrast to ACL injuries where swelling is immediate, meniscus-related swelling develops more gradually.

• Mechanical Symptoms: Flap tears, complex tears, or bucket-handle tears may cause locking or catching sensations. These symptoms can be noticed during daily activities or during physical examination.

Mechanical symptoms often indicate a need for surgical intervention. In such cases, non-surgical treatment is usually not sufficient.

Diagnosis of Meniscus Tear

A meniscus tear is diagnosed based on the patient’s clinical history, physical examination, and MRI imaging. However, not every tear seen on MRI explains the patient’s pain.

For instance, if the pain originates from a cartilage issue under the kneecap (such as patellar chondromalacia), but the MRI also shows a meniscus tear, linking the pain solely to the tear and planning surgery might not be the right approach.

If physical examination findings suggest a meniscus tear and MRI confirms it, a treatment plan is made targeting the tear.

MRI Grading of Meniscus Tears

Meniscus tears are common knee injuries and can be assessed in detail through MRI, which helps determine the size, location, and severity of the tear. Tears are usually graded, which is essential for forming a treatment strategy.

Grades of Meniscus Tears:

• Grade 0 (Normal): No signs of tear or degeneration. MRI shows a homogeneous meniscus with no abnormal signal.

• Grade 1 (Mild Degeneration): Small intrameniscal changes without a surface tear. MRI shows round or dot-like high-intensity signals not reaching the surface.

• Grade 2 (Moderate Degeneration): Linear high signal within the meniscus that does not reach the surface.

• Grade 3 (Tear): High signal reaches the articular surface, indicating a definite tear.

• Grade 4 (Complex Tear): Multiple or complex tears with signals reaching multiple surfaces. These are often severe and may require surgery. (https://www.utkuerdemozer.com/en/closed-meniscus-surgery-partial-meniscectomy/)

Treatment of Meniscus Tear

The key factor in deciding treatment is whether the tear is repairable with sutures. If yes, early surgical repair is recommended, as repairable tears may become complex and irreparable over time. In such cases, arthroscopic meniscectomy (removal of the torn part) is the only surgical option.

If the tear is not repairable, we assess whether it causes mechanical symptoms. If there’s no locking or catching, and only pain is present, conservative treatment includes activity modification, physiotherapy, and quadriceps strengthening.

If pain persists, injection therapies like PRP, PRP derivatives, stem cells, and exosomes can be considered.

When mechanical symptoms are absent and only pain exists, a four-month trial of non-surgical treatment is advised. Many meniscus tears improve over time. If pain continues after four months, surgery may be necessary.

Non-Surgical Treatment of Meniscus Tear

Non-surgical treatment depends on tear type, location, and patient factors like age. It’s effective for small and stable tears but varies by individual.

Non-surgical options include:

• Rest: Avoid activities that stress the knee to allow healing.

• Physiotherapy: Tailored exercises improve knee mobility and strengthen muscles.

• PRP Therapy: Platelet-rich plasma injections may accelerate healing by promoting tissue regeneration.

Injection Therapies for Meniscus Tear

Injections aim to reduce pain, inflammation, and promote healing. However, large tears like bucket-handle types usually require surgery.

Common injection treatments include:

• PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma): Concentrated platelets from the patient’s blood are injected into the tear under ultrasound guidance to stimulate healing.

• Exosome Therapy: Lab-derived vesicles from healthy cells are injected into the tear to enhance cell communication and healing.

• Stem Cell Therapy: Stem cells from the patient’s bone marrow or fat tissue are injected to promote cartilage repair.

• Hyaluronic Acid Injection: Improves joint lubrication and reduces friction and pain.

• Corticosteroid Injection: Rapidly reduces pain and inflammation but is not suitable for long-term use.

Consult your orthopedic specialist to determine the best treatment.

What to Avoid with a Meniscus Tear

To prevent further damage and support healing, avoid activities that stress the meniscus:

Avoid the following:

1. High-Impact Activities:

   • Running, jumping, and pivot sports (e.g., football, basketball, tennis) worsen the tear.

   • Heavy lifting, especially when squatting.

2. Sudden Twisting Movements:

   • Abrupt changes in direction or uncontrolled movements.

3. Prolonged Standing:

   • Increases joint load and slows recovery.

4. Deep Squatting or Prolonged Knee Flexion:

   • Inhibits blood flow and stresses the joint.

5. Strenuous Exercises:

   • Avoid heavy squats/lunges; prefer swimming or cycling.

6. Unsupported Footwear:

   • Choose shock-absorbing shoes.

7. Ignoring Pain and Swelling:

   • Continuing activity can worsen the injury. Respect rest periods and follow rehab protocols.

Always follow your orthopedic specialist’s guidance to ensure safe and effective recovery.

Meniscus Tear Surgery

Types of Meniscus Surgery

There are two primary surgical methods for treating a meniscus tear:

1. Arthroscopic Meniscectomy (Partial Removal of the Torn Meniscus)

2. Meniscus Repair with Sutures

 Arthroscopic Meniscectomy (Partial Meniscus Removal)

This procedure is performed when the meniscus tear cannot be repaired with sutures. Known as arthroscopic meniscectomy, it involves removing the damaged portion of the meniscus.

➡️ You can learn more about this procedure here: [Link to “Partial Meniscectomy”]➡️ Watch a surgical video of the procedure here: [Video link]

✅ A key feature of this surgery is that patients are usually able to walk — even on the operated leg — just a few hours after the procedure, often without crutches.

Meniscus Repair Surgery

With advancements in surgical technology and suturing techniques, an increasing number of meniscus tears can now be repaired rather than removed.

The technique chosen depends on the location and pattern of the tear. Common repair methods include:

• Inside-Out Repair

• Outside-In Repair

• All-Inside Technique

• Root Tear Repair (for meniscal root tears)

Recovery After Meniscus Surgery

The recovery process varies significantly depending on the type of surgery performed:

Recovery After Partial Meniscectomy

• Most patients can bear weight on the operated leg shortly after surgery.

• Crutches may be used for 2–3 days or not at all.

• Full range of motion is usually allowed immediately.

• Activity levels gradually increase over the following weeks.

• Return to full activity generally takes 4–6 weeks, assuming no swelling or pain.

Recovery After Meniscus Repair Surgery

• Requires a slower and more cautious rehabilitation process.

• The first 3 weeks: Patients use two crutches and avoid full weight-bearing on the operated leg.

• Weeks 3–4: Transition to one crutch.

• By week 4: Most patients can walk without crutches.

• First 4 weeks: Knee flexion is limited to 90 degrees.

• By the end of the 2nd month: Knee flexion reaches 120 degrees.

• Squatting should be avoided for the first 6 months.

• Jogging can resume at 12 weeks post-op, with a gradual increase in activity as tolerated.

Using Stairs After Meniscus Surgery

Climbing stairs can be difficult during the first few weeks. Pain may occur in the knee. A structured physical therapy program aimed at strengthening the knee muscles and improving range of motion can help.

Tips for Stair Climbing After Surgery:

How Long Does Meniscus Surgery Take?

Meniscus surgery typically lasts 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size and location of the tear.

Cost of Meniscus Surgery (2026)

The cost of meniscus surgery in 2026 varies depending on the patient’s condition. For exact pricing, please contact us through our communication channels. Each treatment plan is personalized, and so are the associated costs.

Meniscus Surgery Reviews from Patients

Patient reviews offer valuable insights into the surgical experience and recovery process:

• “I recovered quickly and returned to normal activities. Thank you to my doctor and the team.”

• “I was nervous at first, but the results were amazing. I can now move pain-free.”

• “Pain significantly decreased after surgery. I returned to daily life with physical therapy.”

• “Thanks to the surgery, I can continue playing sports. Recovery was smooth following my doctor’s advice.”

Final Thoughts

A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries, often caused by sudden movements or sports activities.

Treatment depends on whether the tear can be repaired. If repairable, surgery is recommended; otherwise, physiotherapy or injection therapies may be considered.

Op. Dr. Utku Erdem Özer plays a leading role in the effective and personalized treatment of meniscus injuries with a patient-centered approach.

Thank you for reading our article. For more information, feel free to return to the homepage at utkuerdemozer.com.