Key facts
- Each knee has two menisci, which spread load and help the joint move smoothly.
- A tear can follow a twisting injury or develop with load over the years.
- A tear on an MRI can exist without pain, so the scan is read with your examination.
- Some tears are treated without surgery, and others are considered for arthroscopy.
- Which route applies to you can only be defined in an in-person assessment.
What is a meniscus tear?
The meniscus is a C shaped cushion of fibrocartilage between the thigh bone and the shin bone. Each knee has two, one on the inner side and one on the outer side. They spread load across the joint and help it move. A tear is a break in that tissue, and tears differ by location, shape and how much of the meniscus is involved. Those differences matter, because the blood supply and the mechanical role are not the same across the meniscus.
What symptoms can a meniscus tear cause?
Symptoms vary with the tear and the person.
- Pain along the inner or outer side of the joint line
- Swelling that appears after activity
- A catching or clicking sensation with certain movements
- A knee that feels like it gives way
- Difficulty fully bending or straightening the knee
A meniscus tear can also cause few symptoms. Because these complaints overlap with other knee problems, the cause of your symptoms is defined in the assessment rather than from the list.
My MRI shows a meniscus tear: is it the cause of my pain?
Not necessarily. In a population study of 991 adults aged 50 to 90 in Framingham, 61% of the people who had a meniscal tear on knee MRI had reported no knee pain, aching or stiffness in the previous month (Englund et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2008).
That is why the MRI is read together with where your pain is, what triggers it, what the examination finds and what you need to get back to. A finding on a scan is a piece of the picture, not a treatment plan.
The guide my MRI shows a meniscus tear, do I need surgery? goes through this question in more detail.
Which meniscus tears are treated without surgery?
Many patients are managed without an operation, particularly when the knee is not locked, when the tear pattern is not mechanically unstable and when the symptoms respond to a structured programme.
- Rehabilitation to restore strength, control and range of movement
- Changes in training load, technique and daily activity
- Treatment of other findings in the knee that contribute to the pain
- Image-guided interventions when clinically indicated
The route is chosen by indication and discussed with you, and you can read about non-surgical knee treatment in Dubai.
When is arthroscopic surgery considered?
Surgery is discussed when the findings and the symptoms point to it, for example a knee that locks and cannot be straightened, a tear pattern that behaves mechanically, or symptoms that persist after an adequate non-surgical programme. The aim of knee arthroscopy can be to repair the meniscus or to treat the torn part, and which is possible depends on the tear itself.
Every procedure has indications, limitations and potential risks, which are discussed individually before a decision is made.
How is recovery planned around work and sport?
Recovery is planned around what you need to return to: your work, your driving, your travel and your sport. Rather than promising a date, the plan sets stages and criteria, and it is reviewed as your knee responds. Individual recovery varies, so the discussion happens around your case before a decision is made. The guide on planning knee treatment around work, driving and travel explains how that conversation is structured.
When to see a specialist
If your knee locks, swells after activity, gives way, or if you have an MRI report describing a meniscus tear and want it explained, a specialist assessment is the next step. Dr. Ronald Barreto assesses meniscus injuries in Dubai, in English and Portuguese, and the clinic team arranges your appointment on WhatsApp.
The WhatsApp line arranges your appointment. The assessment happens in the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Can a meniscus tear heal without surgery?
Some tears settle with rehabilitation and load changes, and part of the meniscus has a blood supply that allows healing. Whether that applies to your tear depends on its location and pattern, which the assessment reviews.
Does every meniscus tear need surgery?
No. A tear on an MRI does not decide the treatment on its own. Surgery is discussed when the symptoms, the examination and the tear pattern point to it.
How is a meniscus tear diagnosed?
Through your history, a clinical examination of the knee and imaging, usually MRI. The three are read together, because MRI findings can exist without symptoms.
Can I walk with a meniscus tear?
Many people can walk, and some cannot bear weight comfortably. A knee that locks or cannot be straightened needs an assessment without delay.
Which doctor treats a meniscus tear in Dubai?
An orthopedic doctor assesses meniscus injuries. Dr. Ronald Barreto holds the licensed title Specialist Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, and his practice focuses on the knee.
Related pages
Conditions
Treatments