A fibrocartilage located in the articulatory system of the knee is called a meniscus.
Meniscus is a term from a Greek word that can be translated as "half moon" . Its use is found in different areas, such as anatomy , physics and optics .
For physics, the meniscus is the free space of a liquid substance that is in a container. It is a convex or concave curvature according to the molecules of the substance and the tube in question.
In the field of optics, the meniscus is a lens composed of a convex face and another concave face . Its characteristics allow it to have a negative or positive focal length, correcting the spherical aberration experienced by certain types of lenses.
The meniscus in anatomy
For anatomy, the meniscus is a fibrocartilage that has a crescent-shaped appearance and thickness of the waning type found in the articulatory system of the knee . Its function is to achieve the adaptation of the bones of this joint, facilitating its play. The menisci, therefore, act as shock absorbers.
Each knee has a meniscus on its inner region (known as the medial meniscus ) and a meniscus on its outer region (known as the lateral meniscus ). Both menisci are attached to the tibia and have contact with the femur ; In this way, if the knee must support a load, the menisci contribute to cushioning and function as a limit against disproportionate movements.
The menisci, therefore, are essential for the knee joint to remain stable and functioning normally. In the event of a meniscus tear , the knee experiences a blockage, producing intense pain in the sides.
Meniscus injuries are common in athletes.
The injuries
One of the most common knee injuries suffered by humans is the menisci. Due to its nature as a common disease , many advances have been developed regarding the diagnosis and treatment of this ailment, and in most cases surgery is highly recommended for a good recovery.
The causes of this injury can be indirect trauma when making a sudden movement (more common in young people) or a degenerative cause , the wear and tear of the body itself (present in elderly people).
Symptoms of a meniscus injury can be:
- Intense pain in the injured area that becomes stronger when palpating the affected meniscus.
- Inability to perform any knee flexion movement without feeling stabbing pain.
- Inability to walk squatting or kneeling.
- Presence of inflammation that is due to the effusion produced in the scepter of the joint.
- Cracking sounds that occur when trying to bend or extend the knee.
meniscus operation
The most common treatment for this injury is usually surgical intervention . It is performed by arthroscopy , this makes it an operation that is not aggressive to the body and is performed only with local anesthesia . Recovery is usually quick because the wounds that remain after surgery are very small and there are almost no scars.
This operation is called partial menisectomy and consists of removing the affected area of the meniscus, trying to preserve as much of the rest as possible. Before performing it, it is necessary for the patient to undergo various treatments that favor the strengthening of his other leg and arms since, after the operation, he must use crutches to move , and the body must be prepared for this.
Additionally, after this surgery , physiotherapy treatments are performed that aim to help the complete recovery of the damaged leg.