What Is a Torn Lateral Meniscus?
A meniscus tear is a split or rip in the thick, C-shaped cartilage that is located in the knee. There are two types of this cartilage, which is positioned between a person’s femur, or thighbone, and the tibia, a bone in the shin. The meniscus that is located on the inner knee is called the medial meniscus. The cartilage that rests on the outside is called the lateral meniscus. A torn lateral meniscus is a tear that affects this outer cartilage. The lateral meniscus, like the medial meniscus, has an important job to do. It helps to distribute a person’s weight over his knee joint and provide stability to the knee. If this cartilage were absent, a person’s weight would be applied unevenly to his femur and tibia, putting excess stress on the bones and the knee joint. This could result in the development of arthritis of the knee, a condition marked by pain, swelling, and stiffness.
