What is a meniscus and how does it tear?
The image at left reveals a normal meniscus sitting between the femur above and the tibia below. The meniscus is a C-shaped structure in your knee that is made of fibro-cartilage. It acts as a cushion for the knee when it’s bearing weight. Most meniscal tears in adults are attritional … that is, the meniscus simply wears out from years of use. Most adult patients with a torn meniscus don’t recall how or when it happened. The presentation is usually quite different in children or adolescents. Their tears are usually traumatic in nature and will usually arise from a non-contact twisting injury.
