Mucinous degeneration of the menisci. Degenerative changes in the menisci. Damage to the external meniscus of the knee joint

Knee pain is common cause appeals for medical care. They can occur due to various pathologies, including damage to the menisci - special cartilaginous plates located between the articular surfaces. Their main task is to cushion and stabilize the joint. And in conditions of significant loads that the knee has to experience, this is extremely important.

The pathology of the menisci is often traumatic in nature, manifesting itself either as an isolated injury or in combination with ruptures of the ligamentous apparatus. This is more common among young people who are intensely involved in sports. After 40 years, cases of degenerative changes predominate, which lead to meniscal rupture. Fix such problems knee joint possible after clarifying their origin, clinical manifestations and severity.

Causes

Degenerative-dystrophic processes do not develop in healthy body. This must be preceded by violations at various levels: local and general. They have a clear relationship, which distinguishes the development of pathology from traumatic injuries, when only mechanical impact on the knee joint is sufficient. Undoubtedly, injuries and prolonged excessive stress on joints are key factors in the formation of degenerative changes, but there are other conditions that contribute to such processes:

Dysplasia of the knee joint.
Obesity.
Gout.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatism.
Osteoarthritis.
Infectious diseases (tuberculosis, brucellosis, yersiniosis).
Connective tissue diseases (lupus erythematosus, scleroderma).
Endocrine pathology (hypothyroidism).
Systemic vasculitis.

Dystrophic processes in the knee joint are largely due to metabolic, immune, endocrine and vascular disorders, which can occur in conjunction with age-related changes that inevitably appear after 50 years.

Degenerative changes in the menisci develop due to many reasons. In most cases, there is a combined effect of unfavorable factors.

Symptoms

Damage of a degenerative-dystrophic nature - meniscopathy - does not occur suddenly. It takes time for the initiation and progression of pathological processes in the knee joint. The following symptoms may appear initially:

Feeling of fatigue in the joint.
Crunching, rubbing and clicking in the knee.
Periodic pain after intense exercise.

Over time, pathological changes appear not only in the menisci, but also in the adjacent articular surfaces and ligaments. Fabrics become less durable, which contributes to their damage. As a result, ruptures of the cartilage shock-absorbing pads can appear even without previous injury - just an awkward movement, squatting or simply bending the leg is enough. In this case, the symptoms worsen, the following signs become characteristic:

Swelling and redness in the joint space area.
Limitation of movements.
Knee instability.
Blocking (jamming) of the joint.

But most often, chronic damage, which is dystrophic in nature, occurs with a single symptom - pain, only occasionally manifesting itself as blocking of the joint. The severity of symptoms varies - from minimal to very strong, when it is impossible to even stand on your leg or make any movements. Unpleasant sensations can only bother you when going down stairs or while doing squats. It depends on the extent of the damage and which structures are involved. Concomitant pathology of the knee joint also plays a role: condylar fractures, ligament ruptures, osteoarthritis.

According to their localization, ruptures can be located in the following areas:

Body of the meniscus: internal (medial) or external (lateral).
Anterior horn of the lateral meniscus.
Posterior horn of the internal meniscus.
Combined damage.

More often you can find tears of the outer meniscus, since it has greater mobility than the inner one. The latter often ruptures when combined with damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. Degenerative changes in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus are accompanied by less intense symptoms, and signs of wedging are often absent. The anterior horn comes off much less frequently.

If the lesion affects the vascular zone, then hemarthrosis (accumulation of blood) is likely to develop. The joint swells significantly, which is evident from the change in the shape of the patella area. Palpation is characterized by pain in the area of the joint space, which occurs during tests with passive flexion and extension of the knee.

Damage to the internal or external meniscus can be suspected clinically, but additional methods help confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnostics

To make a definitive conclusion about meniscopathy, it is necessary to conduct an imaging examination. This includes radiography or magnetic resonance imaging. The latter method has significant advantages, since it allows you to accurately assess the condition of intra- and periarticular soft tissues and does not have radiation exposure. Based on the tomography results, the degree of damage to the meniscus is determined (according to Stoller):

1 – focal changes that do not reach the surface layer.
2 – linear changes that do not reach the surface layer.
3 – changes reach the surface of the meniscus.

We can talk about a true break only in the latter case. In addition, the image clearly shows the dislocation of cartilaginous structures, changes in shape, and separation of one of the horns.

Treatment

Treatment of meniscopathy of the knee joint is necessary in a comprehensive manner. Conservative and surgical methods are used. Depending on the severity of the disease, the effect of the drugs used may be different. To achieve maximum results, you should follow all doctor's recommendations. And first of all, it is necessary to reduce the load on the sore leg. You can wear an elastic bandage or a knee orthosis, but completely immobilizing the joint with a cast is fundamentally wrong - this will not improve its function, but will lead to contractures.

Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the menisci require persistent and intensive therapy, which can take quite a long time.

Drug therapy

Pathology of the knee joint, including damage to the menisci, requires the use of medications. Drugs are especially necessary for acute ruptures, but chronic processes cannot be effectively corrected without drugs. With dystrophic changes, it is important to normalize biochemical processes in the body. To improve the condition of the meniscus and reduce symptoms, the following medications are used:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Chondroprotectors.
Metabolic.
Vascular.
Vitamins.

All medications must be taken according to the recommendations of a specialist. Self-medication is not allowed.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is also used to restore the integrity of the meniscus. For this purpose, several procedures are used: electro- and phonophoresis, laser and wave treatment, magneto-, paraffin- and balneotherapy. Which of them are indicated in each case will be determined by the doctor. But one should not expect a pronounced effect from the isolated use of physiotherapy - it is used only in combination with other methods.

Physiotherapy

Even with meniscus tears, physical therapy is indicated. It should include exercises aimed at strengthening the thigh muscles - the anterior and posterior groups. This allows you to stabilize the knee and eliminate its instability. But you should still be careful during exercise and avoid sudden movements, especially rotational ones.

Conservative measures are good for small tears, as well as for older people, who often show signs of osteoarthritis.

Operation

If the lesion of the internal or external meniscus reaches grade 3 according to Stoller, is of significant size and is accompanied by severe symptoms, as well as if previous therapy is ineffective, then there are all indications for surgical intervention. Only a doctor can determine when surgery should begin, but there is no point in delaying it.

The most common method of surgical treatment is arthroscopic surgery. This is a minimally invasive technology that can be used to perform a meniscectomy (partial removal), suture, transplant or meniscus replacement.

Knee pain can occur due to the development of degenerative processes and meniscal rupture. It is important to carry out timely treatment to restore damaged tissue. What is better to use - conservative therapy or surgery - is determined by the clinical situation.

Damage to the meniscus of the knee joint: causes and consequences

Damage to the meniscus of the knee joint is the most common problem faced by athletes and people involved in heavy lifting. physical labor. Most often, the word “damage” refers to a meniscus tear.
Content:

How does the knee joint function?
Why are menisci needed?
What are the symptoms of such damage?
How are they treated?
How to treat damage folk remedies?
How is rehabilitation after meniscus injuries?

Meniscus injuries are divided into two groups:

degenerative, which are formed as:
- result of senile arthrosis;
- developmental pathology from birth or childhood;
- the result of a previous injury that was not treated properly.
resulting from injuries (occur at any age).

The knee joint is the most complex and largest joint in the human body. He gets injured much more often than others. Most of these injuries can be treated conservatively (non-surgically), but some cannot be treated without surgery.

How does the knee joint function?

The knee joint is located between the femur and tibia. It is covered in front by the kneecap.

The patella is connected to the quadriceps femoris muscle by a tendon. The ligamentous apparatus also includes the cruciate and collateral ligaments.

In the cavity of the knee joint there are cruciate ligaments: anterior and posterior. The anterior ligament starts from the superior bony prominence of the femur, passes through the cavity of the knee joint and is attached to the anterior intercondylar fossa located on the tibia.

This ligament is very important for stabilizing the knee joint: it prevents the tibia from moving too far forward, and also holds the external bony protrusion located on the tibia.

The posterior cruciate ligament begins at the top of the medial femoral condyle, passes past the knee joint, and attaches to the posterior intercondylar fossa located on the tibia. This ligament is necessary to stabilize the knee joint and keep the tibia from moving backward.

The articular surfaces are covered with cartilage. Between the connecting surfaces of the tibia and femur are the outer and inner menisci (crescent cartilages). The knee joint is located in the joint capsule.

Menisci are cartilage layers located in the inner part of the knee joint. Basically, they perform the so-called shock absorption and stabilizing function.

The knee joint has two menisci: the outer, or lateral, and the inner, or medial.

Why are menisci needed?

Until recently, it was believed in medicine that menisci were non-functioning muscle remnants.

Now, of course, everyone knows about the importance of the menisci. They perform a number of functions:

help distribute the load;
absorb various shocks;
are stabilizers;
reduce contact tension;
are limiters of the range of motion of the cartilage, which significantly reduces the percentage of dislocations;
send signals to the brain about the position of the joint.

How often does a meniscus tear occur?

In a population of one hundred thousand people, meniscus tears are diagnosed in 55-75 cases per year. Men suffer this injury three times more often than women, especially in the age group of 18 to 30 years. At the age of over 40 years, damage to the meniscus of the knee joint occurs due to degenerative changes in the tendons.

Most often, a tear of the medial meniscus is diagnosed. With acute traumatic ruptures, complex damage inside the joint often occurs when the meniscus and ligament are injured at the same time.

What are the symptoms of such damage?

The rupture occurs mainly when twisting on one leg. For example, when running fast, if one foot stands on a convex surface. Then the person falls, twisting the body.

The first symptom is, of course, joint pain. If the meniscal tear is extensive, then a large hematoma forms at the site of injury.

Small tears cause difficulty moving, accompanied by painful clicking sounds. With extensive ruptures, the joint is blocked. Moreover, if it is impossible to bend the knee, then the posterior meniscus is damaged, and if the joint jams during extension, the anterior one is damaged.

Degenerative tears are considered chronic. They occur in people aged forty and older. In such cases, a meniscus tear is not always accompanied by a sharp load on the knee joint; it is enough to sit down incorrectly or stumble slightly.

Regardless of the type of rupture, the symptoms in each specific case are purely individual.

Damage to the internal meniscus of the knee joint has the following symptoms:

pain in inside the knee, in particular the joint;
above the attachment of the ligament and meniscus, point sensitivity is felt;
when exerting, a shooting sharp pain appears;
it is impossible to move the kneecap;
pain throughout the tibial ligament when bending the leg excessively;
edema;
muscle weakness in the anterior thigh area.

Symptoms of damage to the external meniscus are:

pain when the fibular collateral ligament is strained;
pain shooting into the outer part of the knee joint and along the fibular collateral ligament;
when trying to turn the shin inward, a sharp pain occurs;
muscle weakness in the front of the thigh.

What are the types of meniscal tears?

In addition to dividing tears into traumatic and degenerative, there are other medical features by which meniscal damage is classified:

According to localization, ruptures can be in the posterior horn, body and anterior horn.
according to form:
- horizontal (the result of cystic degeneration);
- radial, longitudinal, oblique (on the border of the posterior and middle third of the meniscus);
- combined tears (in the posterior horn), the so-called “basket handle”.

How is a meniscal injury determined?

The diagnosis of a meniscus tear can only be made by a doctor. Before making a diagnosis and starting treatment, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms. After this, he will begin to examine the knee joint and the entire leg. The doctor will need to examine the joint for fluid accumulation and also check to see if you have muscle atrophy.

A competent traumatologist, based on the information received as a result of a survey and examination of the patient, can make a diagnosis with an accuracy of up to 95%. But to be 100% sure, it is better to undergo additional research. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a number of procedures, including:

Magnetic resonance imaging;
ultrasound examination (in rare cases);
radiography.

An X-ray is a mandatory procedure if any joint pain occurs. This is one of the simplest and available methods diagnostics

Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a more accurate type of diagnosis. It allows you to check not only the joint, but also the periarticular formations. This may be necessary in complex cases when the doctor is not sure of the diagnosis.

The disadvantage of MRI is the high cost and incorrect interpretation of changes, which significantly affects treatment methods.

According to MRI, changes in the meniscus are divided into four degrees, which are designated by numbers from zero to three:

0 – normal state of the meniscus (no changes);
I – a focal signal is localized in the thickness of the meniscus (spherical increase in signal intensity);
II – detection of a linear signal in the thickness of the meniscus;
III – the signal is very intense and reaches the surface of the meniscus. The last degree means a break.

When diagnosing, MRI gives 85-95% accuracy of readings. A healthy meniscus is shaped like a butterfly, and any deformation indicates the presence of a tear.

How are they treated?

If the meniscus of the knee joint is damaged, surgical intervention is necessary. This mainly concerns ruptures in which mechanical obstacles to the flexion-extension of the knee are formed.

Arthroscopy is the most effective. This is a type of operation in which all necessary interventions are performed through two small incisions. The torn part of the meniscus must be removed, as it will no longer be able to perform its functions.

This type of operation is simple, so the patient can walk on the same day, but full recovery occurs in the next two weeks.

What questions should you discuss with your doctor?

If you have been diagnosed with a meniscus tear, be sure to ask your doctor about the characteristics of the injury and future treatment. Questions could be:

Is there a meniscus tear? Which one: resulting from injury or degenerative?
Are there any collateral damages?
Is it enough to undergo an X-ray, or is there a need for an MRI?
Is it possible in my case conservative treatment?
Will I have a shorter recovery period after arthroscopy?

How is damage treated with folk remedies?

Traditional medicine, in this case, can only help in cases of meniscal rupture without its subsequent displacement. If the damaged meniscus is displaced and blocks the movement of the joint, then the help of a surgeon is necessary.

Treatment traditional medicine not entirely advisable for full recovery. It is best to use traditional methods during the rehabilitation period. Here are some recipes from traditional healers:

Make a compress from alcohol and honey. Heat the ingredients in a steam bath and then apply it to your knee. Cover with a warm scarf or cloth. The compress should be left on the damaged area for three hours. This procedure must be repeated morning and evening for two months.
Place warm medical bile on the tissue and apply it to the site of the meniscus tear. This procedure should be performed for ten days, after which a five-day break is needed. If necessary, you can repeat the course of compresses with bile.
Burdock compress. Just because a method is simple does not mean it is ineffective. Wrap the sore knee in a burdock leaf, secure it with a bandage or bandage and keep it there for four hours. In winter you can use dried burdock soaked in hot water. This compress must be kept for about eight hours. Repeat the procedure daily until complete recovery. Burdock has a good antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Onion compress. Grate two medium onions. Mix the resulting pulp with one teaspoon of sugar. Place as a compress and wrap with polyethylene. It is advisable to do this procedure at night. Repeat daily for a month.

Why does the joint continue to hurt?

There are situations when a treated and recovered joint continues to hurt. Sometimes this is the result of unresolved postoperative hematomas in the joint. To restore blood circulation and quickly cure these consequences, it is necessary to carry out treatment, the purpose of which will be a resolving effect on the hematomas.

Simultaneously with the course of medications, it is possible to increase the excitability of the muscles of the injured limb by performing physiological procedures.

How is rehabilitation after meniscus injuries?

Rehabilitation for this disease is different for all patients. It all depends on the type of rupture and its complexity. The lines of rehabilitation and types of restorative procedures are prescribed by the attending physician on an individual basis. With complete or partial removal of the meniscus, patients must move only with crutches for four to seven days. To normal physical activity the patient can return only after a month or a month and a half.

If arthroscopy was performed to suture the meniscus, then the period of movement on crutches will last at least a month. In this case, the load on the injured joint is prohibited so that the stitches do not come apart and the possibility of healing is ensured.

How to prevent meniscus damage?

There is no prevention for such damage. It is impossible to make the meniscus thicker or stronger. We can only recommend being careful while running or walking. Frequent wearing of high-heeled or platform shoes is undesirable for women.

For athletes, it is advisable to use special fixing bandages or knee pads.

You can perform a set of exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscle. It helps stabilize the joint when walking. Strengthening this muscle will reduce the risk of joint injuries and meniscus damage.

Legs in human body play a major role in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, and it is most subject to stress. Every day a person can walk long distances, go down and up stairs, lift weights, putting enormous stress on the legs, and, in particular, on the knee joint. One of the most common diseases is grade 2 osteoarthritis of the knee joint, treatment of which must begin as soon as the first symptoms appear.

As for the statistics regarding this disease, they are quite sad, since it affects about 20% of the world's population. However, doctors claim that the percentage of patients is increasing significantly every year. Women are most often affected by osteoarthritis. The average age of development of the disease is approximately 40 years, and after 65 years the likelihood of its occurrence increases several times.

Physiology of the disease

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (doctors sometimes call it gonarthrosis) is one of the most common diseases when the meniscus is damaged. It has a chronic form, the symptoms of the disease lead to the gradual destruction of the knee joint, tissue and meniscus.
The main companions of the disease are degenerative changes in the hyaline cartilage, which is located in the knee, after which the cartilage loses its functionality and strength. This happens due to the fact that with osteoarthritis, the normal nutrition of cartilage cells with necessary substances is reduced or completely stopped. As a result of this, its dystrophy occurs and the person becomes disabled; sometimes only part of it can be erased, and in some cases it completely disappears.

After the final disappearance of the cartilage (and this can happen as a result of a long-term inflammatory process), the knee joint becomes completely immobile. The immobility of the joint is also the result of the fact that the hyaline cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber and is responsible for softer friction between tissues, becomes thinner. This damages the meniscus.

The cause of a physiological disorder in bone tissue is the formation of spines located on the surface of the bare bone, which causes pathological deformation of the knee and, as a result, disability. In this case, treatment is carried out in such a way as to prevent further development.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint

As is already known, the disease begins to develop with a change in the pathological type in the cartilage tissues. At the very beginning, the process occurs at a micro level and its symptoms are completely invisible. Further, due to the influence of various causes, the nutrition of the cartilage cells is disrupted, after which they begin to die - the disease affects the meniscus, joints, ligaments and the periarticular bursa.

It is important to know that the diagnosis of “grade 2 osteoarthritis of the knee joint” is considered a degenerative disease and affects the joint structures, leads to their deformation, after which the person is given a disability!

Undoubtedly, the main reasons for the formation of osteophytes (bone growths) are inflammatory processes that destroy cartilage tissue.

People diagnosed with osteoarthritis complain of aching pain. In addition to all the destruction, there is also a process of deformation in the periarticular sac, in which the capsule is compacted, muscle contraction of a spastic type occurs, and the tendon sheaths also become inflamed. Such reasons lead to dysfunction of the joint and a significant increase in pain.

Osteoarthritis is becoming more common every year, as life modern man very often there is a lack of physical activity.

The function of cartilage in the knee joint is to connect 2 bones together. There is synovial fluid around it, which ensures painless and smooth friction between the bones and each other. Some time after osteoarthritis develops, this cartilage wears out quickly.

Reasons for the development of the disease

According to experts, the causes of the disease do not have an unambiguous and precise formulation. But still, certain prerequisites for the development of the disease exist.

Modern medicine identifies the following risk groups: people involved in professional sports. Previous injuries related to the knee. Doctors also name severe obesity as a cause. Wear and tear of joints as a result of aging.

This diagnosis is very rarely made to those people who have not reached the age of 30 years. But changes in the body associated with its aging still reduce the regenerative abilities of cartilage after various types of damage.

Many women may discover they have osteoarthritis after experiencing menopause. Also at risk are those whose parents or immediate relatives were ill. The disease often worries people who are obese, and the higher the degree, the greater the risk of damage to the knee joint.

Manifestation of the disease

The main signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are: initial stage- This is, first of all, a feeling of pain and stiffness. In the morning, especially when getting out of bed, after a long stay in a sitting position or long walks, the unpleasant sensations are felt strongly.

Initially painful sensations lasts only the first minutes, however, at the next stage of the disease, joint movement becomes increasingly limited. And also a person with such a diagnosis feels a crunching sensation in the joint of the left or right knee, and sometimes in both. Stage 2 osteoarthritis of the knee can lead to tumors. In this regard, the patient begins to limp, and if the stage of the disease is advanced, the patient cannot move independently without crutches or a wheelchair. In such cases, a person is determined to have a disability.

Stages of development

Stage 2 osteoarthritis has quite pronounced symptoms that simply cannot be ignored:

Strong and constant pain, the illness is especially acute in the morning.
Pain disturbs a person even when he is at rest.
When walking, the diseased joint begins to produce a clearly noticeable crunch.
The patient's gait becomes slower.
A complication may arise. This happens when a piece of bone gets into the joint cavity.
The joint and meniscus are distorted, which noticeably changes the shape of the knee.
Inflammation begins, and then swelling appears.
Painful palpation of the knee.
Clearly noticeable deformation of the periarticular tissues and articular cavity on x-rays.

Osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree passes with already clearly defined signs, and in order to avoid a further diagnosis of “disability”, you need to urgently consult a doctor.

And the third stage of the disease is considered the last and causes disability.

Osteoarthritis grade 2

Stage 2 osteoarthritis often has obvious signs. The patient feels constant discomfort, even in a sitting or lying position.

If a person has this stage 2 disease, then it is difficult for him to move his knee and walk long distances due to his slow gait. And the x-ray taken shows that the meniscus is damaged and the articular cavity is significantly narrowed, as well as the presence of bone growths. According to statistics, it is at this stage that most patients consult a doctor and begin to carry out a thorough medical treatment, combining it with folk remedies.

Treatment of osteoporosis

This disease requires serious and complex treatment. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to eliminate the very cause of the disease. So, in the event of the development of a disease as a result of obesity, first of all, a person should lose excess weight to relieve pressure on the meniscus. If the diagnosis is made due to excessive physical activity, it should be reduced or abandoned completely, since in this situation only therapeutic exercises are recommended. When the cause is a hormone imbalance, then they need to be normalized.

Drug treatment

The necessary medications used for treatment are divided into 3 groups:

Anti-inflammatory drugs.
Analgesics.
Chondroprotectors are used to provide nutrition to the cartilage.

Treatment with these medicines helps preserve the meniscus and relieve pain, since these are the symptoms that most often worry people diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Medicines are especially effective when it is necessary to eliminate differential inflammatory process, which is the main cause of pain.

When a person has an inflammatory process, treatment is often carried out with the following drugs: Hydrocortisone, Diprospan and Triamcinolone.

Chondroprotectors

Most doctors say that it is advisable to include chondroprotective therapy in the course of treatment; it is usually administered intra-articularly or intramuscularly. Hyaluronic acid is also often used to treat osteoarthritis; it is intended only for intra-articular administration. To effectively treat such a diagnosis, you need to follow the exact recipe, and it is important to be as careful as possible with folk remedies. A person diagnosed with stage 2 osteoarthritis must take responsibility for his health and perform all of the procedures, which also include therapeutic exercises.

Diet

When there are symptoms and the diagnosis is confirmed, then the doctor prescribes various dietary supplements rich in collagen and chondroitin to the person. For the treatment to be as effective as possible, the patient must adhere to a diet consisting mainly of turkey, fish, seafood, the main thing is that the meat is lean.
The diet should also include yellow and green vegetables, fresh herbs and fruits. This diet will have a positive effect on the meniscus and will significantly speed up treatment. But in order to prevent the situation from worsening, it is important to consult with your doctor before starting treatment with folk remedies.

As for prohibited foods, it is advisable to exclude fatty, spicy, salty and carbohydrate-rich foods from the daily menu, since they negatively affect the meniscus and do not allow the cartilage to absorb amino acids, and such foods usually contain a lot of calories.

For those diagnosed with osteoarthritis, treatment with yoga, massage, ultrasound, acupuncture, magnetic therapy and laser is additionally recommended. Patients should not forget that therapeutic exercises also serve as excellent prevention. It significantly reduces pain and eliminates some symptoms. Of course, it is still necessary to regularly carry out special sanatorium treatment, which will help improve the patient’s condition.

There are places in the human body where increased stress is felt. These include the cartilage discs between the vertebrae and the menisci of the knee joint. Over time, degenerative processes occur in the lateral (outer) and medial (inner) menisci.

The result of this pathology can deliver a large amount of discomfort.

Features of degenerative changes

The concept of degenerative changes should be understood as anatomical deformation of an organ of varying degrees (according to Stoller), which was the result of:

injuries;
diseases;
atypical joint structure.

Meniscal degeneration is often the result of injury, which is not always obvious. An ordinary unsuccessful turn of the shin can be a prerequisite for the destruction of cartilage tissue, accompanied by severe pain.

Often the medial disc may be damaged. If, with damage to the outer cartilage, which cushions motor activity knee joint, there is no rigid fixation, then the cartilage shifts to one side.

In this case, its horns will be located next to the condyles. With a sharp turn of the tibia, the meniscus may not have time to escape from the displaced process of bone tissue and immediately damage or even rupture occurs.

Degenerative lesions of the menisci can be different:

rupture of the horn and body of the external and internal meniscus;
complete separation from the attachment point;
excessive mobility due to rupture of the ligaments between the menisci;
cystic neoplasms inside the cartilage cavities of the knee joint;
meniscopathy – dystrophic changes that occur under the influence of minor injuries and as a result of complications of gout, tuberculosis, rheumatism and osteoarthritis.

How do changes manifest themselves?

If a person is constantly tormented by aching pain, each time arising with renewed vigor, then it is quite possible that he has begun to experience pathological changes in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. In almost 90 percent of cases, changes in the knee joint are associated with damage to the natural “shock absorber” of the lower extremities.

Symptoms will largely depend on the nature of the pathology itself. The gap is always accompanied by:

severe painful sensations;
blockade of the lower limb in a bent state;
extensive swelling.

Serious damage to the medial meniscus occurs against the background of hemorrhage into the joint cavity (hemarthrosis). Swelling and pain are also characteristic of meniscal cystosis. All tears and detachments are chronic in nature, they can manifest as temporary pain and a feeling of interference with motor activity.

For self-diagnosis, you can conduct a special test. You need to go up and down the stairs. If there is a pathology of the meniscus, then as it descends, the pain in the knee joint will intensify significantly.

The chronic course is accompanied by secondary degenerative and dystrophic changes in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (caused by other diseases). As a rule, in such situations, clicking and a feeling of pathological joint mobility (rolling) will be noted. This process is especially noticeable in movement after a prolonged state of rest. It can often present as pain in the knees.

As the disease progresses, symptoms gradually increase. The cartilage layer becomes thinner, and salts or uric acid crystals accumulate underneath it. If the patient does not seek adequate medical help, then the final stage of meniscopathy will be contracture.

It should be understood as a stable impairment and significant limitation of joint mobility.

The following symptoms are common to any degree of degeneration:

pain;
edema;
crunching and clicking sounds;
joint blockade;
Stiffening of the knee joint with prolonged lack of movement.

Causes of degeneration

The high incidence of pathologies among patients of any age is caused by the special anatomical structure and location of the posterior horn of the menisci. As a rule, damage and cysts occur in those people whose activities are associated with high physical activity and significant stress (dancers, ballerinas, athletes).

Degenerative changes in the menisci can be caused by:

dysplasia (improper formation of the knee joint);
diseases affecting the joints (gout, tuberculosis, rheumatism, syphilis);
sprained ligaments and their inadequate formation;
flat feet (low shock absorption of the foot, compensated by excessive load on the knees);
overweight.

Diagnostic methods

If the patient suffers from an acute form of damage to the medial meniscus, then in this case there will be blockade, pain and characteristic clicks when straightening the knee joint. This makes it possible to establish an almost 100 percent correct diagnosis.

Degenerative damage and changes in the internal meniscus cannot always be detected by visual examination due to the lack of clear, vivid symptoms and even a positive reaction to the tests performed.

In such a situation, you should resort to instrumental diagnostic methods:

Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI of the knee joint (classification according to Stoller is used). The study helps to obtain a three-dimensional picture of almost all tissues of the knee joint;
arthroscopy. Thanks to a miniature incision, a special endoscope is inserted into the joint cavity. It can be used to monitor the condition of synovial fluid and tissues.

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Causes

Degenerative-dystrophic processes do not develop in a healthy body. This must be preceded by violations at various levels: local and general. They have a clear relationship, which distinguishes the development of pathology from traumatic injuries, when only mechanical impact on the knee joint is sufficient. Undoubtedly, injuries and prolonged excessive stress on joints are key factors in the formation of degenerative changes, but there are other conditions that contribute to such processes:

Dysplasia of the knee joint.
Obesity.
Gout.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatism.
Osteoarthritis.
Infectious diseases (tuberculosis, brucellosis, yersiniosis).
Connective tissue diseases (lupus erythematosus, scleroderma).
Endocrine pathology (hypothyroidism).
Systemic vasculitis.

Degenerative changes in the menisci develop due to many reasons. In most cases, there is a combined effect of unfavorable factors.

Symptoms

Feeling of fatigue in the joint.
Crunching, rubbing and clicking in the knee.
Periodic pain after intense exercise.

Swelling and redness in the joint space area.
Limitation of movements.
Knee instability.
Blocking (jamming) of the joint.

According to their localization, ruptures can be located in the following areas:

Body of the meniscus: internal (medial) or external (lateral).
Anterior horn of the lateral meniscus.
Posterior horn of the internal meniscus.
Combined damage.

Damage to the internal or external meniscus can be suspected clinically, but additional methods help confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnostics

1 – focal changes that do not reach the surface layer.
2 – linear changes that do not reach the surface layer.
3 – changes reach the surface of the meniscus.

We can talk about a true break only in the latter case. In addition, the image clearly shows the dislocation of cartilaginous structures, changes in shape, and separation of one of the horns.

Treatment

Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the menisci require persistent and intensive therapy, which can take quite a long time.

Drug therapy

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Chondroprotectors.
Metabolic.
Vascular.
Vitamins.

All medications must be taken according to the recommendations of a specialist. Self-medication is not allowed.

Physiotherapy

Conservative measures are good for small tears, as well as for older people, who often show signs of osteoarthritis.

Operation

moyskelet.ru

Hello Dear Doctor.
I have this problem. At the beginning of January, when walking long distances, pain appeared below the knee joint of the left leg. I went to the therapist and prescribed Mydocalm 5 injections, Milgamma 5 injections and Amelotex 5 injections. The pain stopped immediately. The therapist sent me for an x-ray to see if the joint was okay. Here is the result of the x-ray:
X-ray of the left knee joint in 2 areas.
The P-articular space is unevenly narrowed, subchondral osteosclerosis of the articular surfaces. Bone growths along the edge of the articular surface of the femur, tibia, m/condylar eminence.
Conclusion: DOA of the virgin knee joint, stage 2.
Based on the results of the x-ray, the therapist did not prescribe anything. I went to see an orthopedist, he looked for only 2 minutes, said that there was no stage 2, recommended a knee brace and told me to come back in August.
I went to another orthopedist and sent him for an MRI:
On a series of MR tomograms, weighted in T1 and T2 in three projections, with fat suppression, no traumatic bone changes are detected.
The joint capsule is not thickened.
There is a physiological amount of effusion in the joint cavity.
The structure of the bone tissue is not changed.
The joint space is uniform, the congruence of the articular surfaces is preserved.
In the body of the medial meniscus, a linear horizontal MR signal of grade 2 is determined. According to Stoller, it is probably of a degenerative nature.
The integrity of the lateral meniscus, cruciate and collateral ligaments was preserved. The patellar ligament and its retinaculum are without features.
The intensity of the signal from the bone marrow is not changed.
The signal of the cartilaginous component of the joint is increased, the articular hyaline cartilage is uneven and not changed.
The signal intensity from Hoff's tissue is unremarkable.
The popliteal fossa is unchanged. There are no marginal osteophytes.
The surrounding soft tissues are without visible pathology.
Conclusion: MR picture of degenerative damage to the medial meniscus.
The same doctor said that arthroscopy of the joint was needed. I signed up for April.
Diagnosed with DOA stage 2, degenerative damage to the medial meniscus.
At the moment the situation is this: the knee does not hurt at all. Bends and unbends well. I go up and down the stairs and it doesn’t hurt. He did not impose any restrictions on his movements. Sometimes I walk a lot and without pain. I never bought the knee brace. The doctor said that the knee brace is used for instability, which I do not have. I do gymnastics for the knee joint according to Dr. Evdokimenko’s method, perform the “stool” exercise, strengthen the muscles of the back, abdominals, thigh and calf muscles. I feel the effect. In general, everything is fine. In this regard, I have questions:
1. Is it correct that I have stage 2 DOA?
2. Is arthroscopy necessary in my case, should I go for arthroscopy or not, because it may cause minor trauma to the cartilage, which is not advisable?
3. If you don’t go for surgery, what could happen in the future? Can be treated with chonroprotectors, do gymnastics.

03online.com

Degenerative changes: general characteristics

The human body is often compared to a complex mechanism, where each organ performs a specific function. If the heart is considered its motor, the brain is considered an electronic control unit, then the gastrointestinal tract is the fuel system, and articular cartilage is shock absorbers that facilitate and normalize the activity of the joints.
Cartilage tissue in the form of discs is located between the vertebrae, and in the form of menisci is located in the knee joint, which helps reduce surface friction, limit mobility and improve joint rotation. There are two menisci in the knee joint: outer– lateral, more mobile, and interior– medial, more static.
Degenerative changes in the menisci of the knee joint are characteristic injuries resulting from injuries (usually in athletes), complicated by the course of the disease, or simply due to structural features of the joint. They are the ones who take precedence among all human joint injuries. Characteristic signs of degenerative changes are:

tearing of the meniscus at the attachment points;
rupture of the body of the meniscus and its horns;
rupture of the ligaments connecting the menisci, which leads to excessive mobility of the joint;
formation of a hollow cyst filled with fluid;
meniscopathy is degeneration resulting from tuberculosis, rheumatism and other diseases.

The medial meniscus is most often injured due to its structure and immobility.

Symptoms of degeneration

Doctors, observing the clinical picture of the disease, distinguish two stages of the disease: acute and chronic.
Characteristic symptoms Degenerative changes in the menisci in the acute form are the appearance of swelling, mild hyperemia, limited joint mobility, inability to rotate, and the appearance of acute localized pain in the area of damage. If the joint is severely damaged, hemarthrosis can occur - hemorrhage into the joint cavity.
After about two weeks, the acute stage gives way to the chronic stage, the pain dulls and is rather aching in nature, but, nevertheless, intensifies when walking. Therefore, the patient tries to limit the movements of the joint and not step on the injured leg. During this period, a characteristic crunch or click appears when moving, and upon palpation the articular ridge is felt.

In the chronic form, thinning of the cartilage tissue occurs, which is accompanied by an increase in joint mobility, instability and unreliability. In some cases, atrophy of the thigh and lower leg muscles develops. If we characterize degenerative changes in the menisci, we can identify general symptoms:

the occurrence of characteristic pain;
the appearance of swelling and redness;
limitation of joint mobility;
the appearance of crunching and clicking sounds when moving;
swelling of the knee joint.

Causes of degenerative changes

Currently, degenerative changes in the menisci occur in various age groups of the population, both among the younger generation and the elderly. The risk group includes dancers, ballerinas, and athletes who, due to the nature of their profession, experience increased stress.
Among the reasons contributing to the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes are:

development of flat feet;

improper formation of ligaments and their stretching;

the presence of diseases that contribute to joint damage (syphilis, rheumatism, tuberculosis, etc.);

overweight.

Diagnosis

Typically, degenerative damage to the internal meniscus, the most common form of knee injury, is easily diagnosed in its acute form. This is due to the presence of pronounced symptoms indicating these damages.
In the chronic form, these changes are much more difficult to identify, so experts resort to modern methods diagnostics:

Ultrasound – ultrasound examination;
CT – computed tomography;
MRI – magnetic resonance imaging;
diagnostic arthroscopy;
radiography.

moisustavy.ru

Causes of degenerative changes in the menisci of the knee joint

There are many reasons for the development of this disease.

In elderly patients, pathology develops due to deterioration of structures.
At risk are also people who, due to their profession, experience strong physical exercise:

athletes, dancers;
people whose work involves vibration;
people who, due to professional necessity, are forced to stand or squat for a long time.

Flat feet. The load on the knee increases as the foot cannot cope with the shock absorption function.
Overweight.
Diseases associated with metabolic disorders - hypothyroidism, gout.
Inflammatory diseases - arthritis, tuberculosis, syphilis.
Congenital abnormalities in the structure of the joint - dysplasia.
Past joint diseases: both traumatic and infectious.

Symptoms

Degenerative damage to the meniscus of the knee joint can develop chronically, then they are manifested by the following symptoms:

Painful sensations in the knee, aggravated by exercise, especially going up and down stairs.
Movement disorders in the knee.
Specific sounds when moving (crunching, creaking in a joint).
Changing the shape of the joint.

Symptoms increase gradually as the disease progresses.

Important! If pain in the knee joint is intermittent, this does not mean that the disease is minor and will “go away on its own.” If treatment is not started, the consequences can be disastrous.

Acute injury develops more often as a result of trauma or severe stress on the joint and has the following symptoms:

Sharp pain.
Severe swelling of the knee.
Possible hemorrhage into the joint cavity - hemarthrosis.
Pathological mobility, or, conversely, the inability to move in the joint.

Diagnostics

Making a diagnosis begins with taking an anamnesis. The doctor identifies symptoms, their relationship with injuries, diseases, and the presence of occupational risks.

When examining a joint, as a rule, signs of meniscus damage are easily identified. However, to clarify the localization (especially if we are talking about the medial meniscus), instrumental studies are prescribed.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Allows you to obtain the most detailed understanding of the pathological process in the joint. Apply classification according to Stoller:

Grade 0: healthy meniscus;
Grade 1: small focal lesions in the meniscus that do not come to the surface;
2nd degree: small longitudinal areas of lesions that do not extend to the surface of the meniscus;
3rd degree: meniscus tear.

Arthroscopy. A detailed examination of the knee structures is carried out using a device - an endoscope, inserted into the joint cavity.
Ultrasound diagnostics - arthrosonography.
X-ray examination.

Treatment

Therapy for degenerative changes in the menisci of the knee joint should be comprehensive. Conservative or surgical treatment is used depending on the type of damage.

Often in the early stages of treatment, the knee joint is immobilized using a plaster cast or orthopedic brace. This is necessary to reduce the load on the affected meniscus.

The accumulation of fluid in the joint is removed using a puncture. After the procedure, the joint cavity is washed with an antiseptic solution.

Drug treatment

The patient is prescribed the following groups of drugs:

Painkillers. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - Diclofenac, Ibuprofen and others. In case of severe pain syndrome (as, for example, when the posterior horn of the medial meniscus is torn off), the patient is prescribed narcotic analgesics - Tramal, etc.
Hormonal drugs. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, especially relevant for rheumatic lesions of the knee. The fastest effect is achieved with intra-articular administration. Drugs in this group: Diprospan, Hydrocortisone.

Important! When introduced into the joint cavity, hormones have a destructive effect on cartilage, so they are used only in short courses.

Chondroprotectors. Accelerate meniscus recovery. Preparations: hyaluronic acid, Glucosamine, Chondroitin.
Muscle relaxants. Prescribed to relieve muscle spasm and reduce stress on the joint. Medicines: Mydocalm, etc.

Physiotherapeutic methods

The following remedies are used to reduce symptoms:

magnetic current therapy;
electrophoresis with drugs;
ultrasound therapy;
applications with paraffin and ozokerite.

Treatment methods are selected by the doctor individually.

Physiotherapy

Without exercise therapy, it is impossible to fully restore joint function after damage. As soon as the doctor confirms that it is possible to train the affected joint, it is necessary to begin the exercises without delay. The load must be increased gradually so as not to injure the meniscus again.

Surgical treatment

Used for necrosis, multiple meniscus tears, cyst formation. The following surgical interventions are performed:

Ligament ruptures are sutured arthroscopically, and affected areas of the meniscus are removed (for example, a torn horn).
Replace the damaged meniscus with an artificial one.

Conclusion

For any type of degenerative lesion of the meniscus of the knee joint, it is important to begin treatment in a timely manner. This will avoid complications, such as contractures, and maintain joint mobility for a long time.

Pain in the knee is considered the most common reason when seeking medical advice. Pain develops for various reasons, but the main one will be degenerative changes in the menisci of the knee joint. The pathology is diagnosed mainly after 40 years of age, and the stage of development, as well as the origin of the disease, can be different.

Causes

Degenerative changes in the menisci do not arise out of nowhere. Pathology can develop due to injuries and damage to the knee. There are other reasons:

structural changes in joint tissues;
overweight;
concomitant pathologies (rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis);
infectious diseases (tuberculosis, brucellosis);
pathologies of connecting surfaces (lupus erythematosus);
inflammatory processes that occur against the background of a malfunction of the circulatory system.

Dystrophic changes in the meniscus of the knee joint appear due to disruptions in the immune and endocrine systems, as well as against the background of structural changes that occur after 50.

Meniscal damage

Pathologies of the cartilage plate, which serves as a shock absorber, can occur in the everyday life of any person. It happens that a shin is accidentally twisted or a limb is damaged in a jump, or while running, an unfortunate fall, or under other circumstances. Thus, a degenerative meniscus tear can be an internal or external knee injury. The lateral or medial view of the cartilaginous plate suffers.

There are such damage to the shock-absorbing cartilage plate:

separation from the fixing area when the area of both horns (posterior, anterior) is affected;
horns or body;
combined pathology, when all parts of the cartilaginous plate are affected, or degenerative damage to both menisci occurs;
ligament damage;
degenerative damage to the meniscus can provoke pathological inflammation;
cystic formations.

With partial tears, the structural tissues of the tendons change. In the injured area, fibrillar fibers begin to be replaced by connective tissue. As a result, fibrosis of the leg occurs, as one of the types of degenerative changes in the menisci.

Before looking at the symptoms of the pathology, let's look at each type of shock-absorbing plate and degenerative tears that occur for various reasons.

Medial meniscus

Degenerative changes in the medial meniscus occur frequently when compared with the external one. Cartilaginous tissue is connected from the inside to the lateral articular ligaments located inside. The medial plate connects to the joint cavity from the outer edge, and its areas are supplied with a large number of blood vessels (red zone).

Such rigid fixation of the inner layer sometimes causes frequent damage. After surgery for resection of the medial plate, the load on the articular ligaments increases almost 2 times.

Lateral meniscus

The outer cartilage plate is fixed in the joint differently, not like the inner part, and is located on the side of the outer knee area. This is a more mobile part, which is why degenerative damage to the lateral meniscus occurs less frequently, unlike the internal one.

If, due to injury, it is necessary to perform resection of the outer cartilaginous plate, the load on the ligaments will increase by almost 200%. Degenerative changes in the lateral view of the plate reduce the area of contact of the articular surfaces by 50%.

Symptoms of pathological changes

Almost any disease develops gradually. If treatment is not started at the initial stage, then as the disease progresses, it will become increasingly difficult to eliminate the symptoms. Degeneration of the knee meniscus begins with certain signs:

fatigue of the joint area appears;
clicking or crunching of the knee;
pain after exertion on the knee area.

If you do not listen to the first signals, the disease develops and the symptoms become more extensive:

structural changes in articular tissues begin;
the joint space narrows, resulting in swelling and redness of the skin;
limitation in some movements;
the joint sometimes jams (incomplete or complete blocking).

When the disease develops into a degenerative course, the main symptom is constant pain, sometimes accompanied by jamming of the joint. The pain syndrome can be pronounced, when it is almost impossible to move. In another case, pain accompanies specific movements (movements on steps, squats).

Pathological changes occur due to injuries such as avulsions of cartilaginous elements, ligaments, and condylar fractures.

Each knee contains two shock-absorbing plates, which are assembled from a body with horns (front, rear). When a limb is injured, avulsions can be localized in certain areas:

body of the inner or outer plate;
on the horn (anterior or posterior) of the inner plate.

The rupture can also be combined. Often, when a limb is injured, the external shock-absorbing plate suffers due to its greater mobility compared to the internal elements.

Stages of disease development

There are 1st and 2nd degrees of degenerative changes in the menisci, which differ in symptoms.

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If the knee area is damaged, slight swelling may appear, accompanied by periodic pain. But, after three weeks, the symptoms subside. This picture is typical for the initial stage of the disease, when injuries occur due to stress on the knee area.

Degenerative changes in the meniscus of the 2nd degree occur after complete separation of the meniscal horn. Severe pain in combination with a limb block usually leads to surgical procedures.

Posterior horn of the medial meniscus

Degenerative dystrophic changes in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus are of the following directions:

the separation is complete;
separation from the fixation site;
softening of cartilage tissue occurring against the background of a concomitant disease (rheumatism);
cystic formation;
ligament trauma.

With dystrophic changes in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, sudden movement may displace or tear the cartilage. It happens that elements of cartilaginous tissue wander in the cavity area, causing acute pain and complete immobility of the limb.

With grade 1 degenerative changes in the medial meniscus, the pain is insignificant and soon passes. Such signs rarely promptly seek medical advice. As a result, the disease gradually progresses and progresses to stage 2 degenerative damage to the medial meniscus, in which the pain does not go away even during rest. The knee completely ceases to function in the more severe form (stage 3).

Regardless of the stage of the disease, degenerative damage to the medial meniscus is accompanied by partial or complete joint blockade. If the separation is complete, then particles of the cartilage plate can reach the joint cavity, which blocks the mobility of the knee. This is the so-called longitudinal gap.

An oblique (incomplete) tear occurs at the junction of the body with the horn (posterior). With such an injury to the internal meniscus, a cracking sound is heard, accompanied by pain of varying intensity.

Degenerative changes in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus may have combined symptoms. With such damage, various articular planes and surfaces are affected.
There is also a horizontal tear of the posterior horn, which leads to degeneration of the medial meniscus. The injury is characterized by severe swelling in the area of the joint space.

Anterior horn of the medial meniscus

Pathologies occurring with the participation of the outer cartilage plate differ from the mechanism of internal damage. Movements that lead to damage and lacerations occur in the opposite direction.

Changes in the anterior horn of the medial meniscus, caused by trauma, occur more often in childhood. In children, joint blockade occurs in rare cases.

The damaged lateral plate has the following symptoms:

discomfort in the area of the peroneal ligament;
filling of the joint cavity with fluid (synovitis);
low muscle tone of the thigh area located in front;
The limb bends heavily and a painful syndrome occurs.

If the external meniscus is injured, the victim can independently remove the stiffness of the limb, even when standing at a right angle. The general picture of changes in the medial meniscus of the knee joint with external trauma is such that the signs are not clearly expressed.

The pain is not constant, so it is difficult to diagnose the damage.

If the injury is not treated, the damage gradually progresses to a chronic course of the disease. If the rupture of the anterior horn is severe, then the articular cavity may fill with blood. In this case, the horn comes off and its elements wander around the articular cavities, which leads to complete immobility of the knee. For these types of injuries, surgical intervention is prescribed.

Regardless of the reasons for the knee injury, and what symptoms the victim experiences, it is necessary to seek medical help as soon as possible. Timely diagnosis and subsequent treatment will help avoid irreversible consequences.

How to forget about joint pain forever?

Have you ever experienced unbearable joint pain or constant back pain? Judging by the fact that you are reading this article, you are already familiar with them personally. And, of course, you know firsthand what it is:

constant aching and sharp pain;
inability to move comfortably and easily;
constant tension in the back muscles;
unpleasant crunching and clicking in the joints;
sharp shooting in the spine or causeless pain in the joints;
inability to sit in one position for a long time.

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The meniscus is a cartilage pad in the joint. It is best known for the knee joint. Degenerative changes in the menisci of the knee joint often develop, and this can forever deprive a person of an active life. Why do they appear, and how to deal with them?

A few words about the meniscus

So, the bones of the lower extremities are fixed and held by two meniscus cartilages, on the anterior and posterior sides (medial and lateral). They also play the role of a shock absorber, which means they prevent numerous injuries to the knee that could occur during movement. Without them, the articulation would be unstable.

The meniscus, along with the elbow, is one of the most mobile joints in the entire skeleton. But without healthy lower limbs, the very possibility of movement, walking, becomes questionable. The menisci have a front and back part (horns), as well as a central zone (body). At the anterior horn and closer to the edges, the structure of the meniscus tissue is most fully saturated with collagen.

Degenerative processes of the meniscus are divided into 5 types:

Meniscal ligament rupture. In this case, the knee becomes unnaturally mobile in all directions. This may cause a dislocation, fracture or other injury. The integrity of the joint itself is not damaged when the ligaments are torn.
Meniscopathy. This is the most classic case when the cartilage gradually becomes thinner and ceases to perform its functions. The root cause may be arthrosis, gout and other diagnoses of the patient.
Meniscus tear. The cartilage is displaced from its anatomically correct position. A person becomes limited in movements.
Cystosis. With this disease, formations form in the cartilage cavity that interfere with the normal functioning of the meniscus. Over time, they deform all surrounding tissues.
Degenerative tear of part of the meniscus. This can be either the body of the cartilage itself or its horns.

The most common degenerative changes occur in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. They are based on long-term microtraumas and chronic diseases, that is, these are physiological damages.

Causes

More often they talk about provoking factors that contribute to the appearance of degenerative processes in the menisci.

Elderly age

Over time, the blood supply to all organs is disrupted and bone structures are among the first to feel this. If we add to this the wear and tear of the joint, which every person of respectable age invariably has, then the prerequisites for the emergence of meniscal pathology already exist.

Athletes

Most sports involve movement of the lower extremities in one way or another. These are runners, football players, and skiers. If such movements are performed exhaustively, they will not bring any benefit to the body. Meniscus problems are especially often diagnosed in dancers. Dance movements especially often lead to injuries, in particular, dislocation and subluxation of the cartilage, including both menisci at once.

Flat feet

Incorrect anatomy of the foot can change and worsen the condition of the entire musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, pelvis and knees. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the knee joint are only one of the possible diagnoses for such a patient.

Inflammatory diseases

They can either occur directly in the joint (arthritis) or be localized in other organs (tuberculosis, syphilis). Of course, they do not lead to manifestations in the knee joint area soon, but in this case, the likelihood of degenerative consequences that are difficult to treat increases.

Harvesting, weeding beds and other gardening and field work are often carried out in a “squatting” position. These people have no idea how dangerous their position is for the knee joint, in particular for the meniscus

Other reasons

The list continues:

Persons who squat or stand for long periods of time. In a squatting position, all blood vessels and nerve endings are pinched. In a standing position, stagnation also occurs in this joint, which negatively affects its condition.
Congenital anomalies. Thus, even ordinary walking with dysplasia of the knee joint, that is, incorrect position of the bones in the joint, provokes the onset and progression of degenerative changes.
Metabolic diseases. This is not only the familiar gout, in which the deposition of uric acid salts completely disrupts the nutrition of the joint, but also hypothyroidism, cirrhosis of the liver and many other diagnoses.
Injuries. The specialist will ask about them first. If there is a history of damage to the articular parts of the knee, then the likelihood of developing degenerative processes is very high.

By the way, if it was the injury that caused the degenerative changes, the doctor will clarify the movements that led to this. Thus, degenerative damage to the internal meniscus occurs when the tibia is sharply rotated with a large amplitude of movement directed outward. Internal rotation damages the lateral meniscus.

Meniscus injuries can sometimes be combined with injuries to other joints, such as the anterior cruciate ligament. Traumatologists see this combination regularly.

Degree of damage

In total, there are 4 types of joint condition:

Zero degree. If a person sees these words on his card, he can calm down. Zero degree is an absolutely healthy meniscus without any changes. All its structures operate without deviations.
First degree. The changes are only inside the meniscus, but they do not reach the outer shell. For this reason, such injuries are very difficult to diagnose using traditional methods - x-rays and even ultrasound. An X-ray will be informative in cases where the damage has already affected the bone structure. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the most informative for grade 1 degenerative changes, which will very clearly indicate the difference in the density of the joint structure. Degenerative signs on MRI are sufficient to initiate appropriate treatment.
Second degree. There is a larger area of damage to the meniscus, but it still does not reach the outer membrane. These changes in some cases can be seen on ultrasound. Sometimes a specialist doubts what degree of severity to define a disease in a particular patient, and he writes “grade 1–2 according to stoller.” The second degree according to stoller is a meniscus tear, but in this case, a violation of the integrity of the meniscus has not yet been recorded.
Third degree. This is the 2nd degree according to stoller. A rupture in grade 3 joint damage can be complete or partial, which determines the doctor’s treatment tactics.

Symptoms

Degenerative changes appear gradually, and therefore all sensations increase over a long time. At first, pain in the knee appears only with exertion, especially when going up or down stairs. Then the person may notice a violation of the movement of the knee joint, the amplitude may change. A little later, “sound” symptoms are added to them - crunching, creaking when moving, especially slowly. In the last stage, the normal shape of the knee changes.

External changes in degenerative destruction of the meniscus do not appear immediately, but only when the anatomy of the knee changes. This does not apply to injuries in which swelling and redness appear almost immediately

The most striking symptoms appear as a result of a meniscus injury:

sharp, severe pain that does not go away even at rest;
the appearance of swelling in the knee area;
hemorrhage into the joint cavity (hemarthrosis);
pathological movement of the joint (too active, in all directions, or, conversely, restriction when wanting to bend the knee).

By the way, restriction of knee movement depends on the location of degenerative changes. Thus, if the anterior horn and the body of the meniscus are damaged, the extension of the joint is blocked, and if there is deformation in the area of the posterior horn, limited flexion is observed.

Treatment

Therapy will depend on how severely the cartilage plate is damaged. If the changes are minimal, then conservative methods are sufficient. Firstly, it is necessary to give the joint rest and remove the load from it. Secondly, it is necessary to start pharmaceutical products treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nimesulide and other non-steroidal PVA will help quickly relieve inflammation if it has become the root cause of degenerative changes.

Painkillers. They not only reduce pain, but also help relieve swelling. Muscle relaxants. They relieve muscle spasms and reduce physical activity during therapy. Chondroprotectors. They restore the structure of cartilage tissue and the joint as a whole, helping to strengthen it.

If there is hemarthrosis, then it is necessary to remove blood clots in the joint cavity to allow it to recover normally. To do this, use a puncture (puncture) and pump out the accumulated blood. Immediately after this, the vacated cavity is washed with an antiseptic solution or glucocorticosteroids are injected, which prevent the accumulation of fluid. To prevent the cavity from filling with lymph and blood again, it is necessary to wear an elastic bandage on the knee for some time, under the pressure of which these processes will be impossible.

Unfortunately, conservative methods are not always effective, and relapses often occur.

If the degeneration has taken a serious turn, then surgical intervention cannot be avoided. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows you to restore the joint in a very short time. If the doctor has prescribed arthroscopy, then you should not try to do without it. It is the only correct method of treating third-degree meniscus damage (second according to stoller), but can also be prescribed in milder cases.

The knee joint is the most frequently surgically treated joint, which is understandable. A person uses his knees, along with his elbows, much more than the rest of the joints of the skeleton

Today this operation has been brought to perfection, and the skill of surgeons is at a very high level. high level. During the operation, the doctor will perform plastic surgery of the joint, that is, remove destroyed tissue and connect healthy areas. Here you can remove adhesions, pieces of cartilage, and also align the edge of damaged cartilage. The operation is low-traumatic and effective.

Mandatory treatment methods include exercise therapy. The joint must remain mobile, the ligaments must remain strong, and the muscles must remain powerful. A set of exercises in a medical institution is selected for a specific patient, for a particular case. Physiotherapy also gives good therapeutic results: shock wave treatment, iontophoresis, magnetic therapy.

Degenerative changes in the menisci are always easier to treat on your own. early stage. Not everyone comes to see a doctor at the first signs of pain, and therefore the processes for many become chronic. Fortunately, modern medicine allows you to restore the integrity of the meniscus, and proper rehabilitation will consolidate the result for many years.

The human body is often compared to cars: the heart is the engine, the stomach is the fuel tank, and the brain sets the whole device in motion. Where are the shock absorbers in humans? Of course, in places that experience increased load: there are cartilaginous discs between the vertebrae, and in the knee joint there are two “shock absorbers” - the menisci. Lateral (external) and medial (internal). The results of degenerative changes in the menisci, although they will not stop the activity of the body as a whole, will definitely cause a lot of unpleasant sensations.

What are degenerative changes in the menisci?

Degenerative changes are anatomical damage to an organ resulting from injury, atypical joint structure or disease. Degeneration of the meniscus is most often the result of injury, sometimes not even obvious: one unsuccessful rotation of the tibia can cause damage to the cartilage disc, which is accompanied by severe pain.

Most often, due to the anatomical structure, the medial meniscus undergoes degeneration. If the outer cartilage, which cushions the movement of the knee joint, does not have rigid fixation and moves to any side if necessary, then the medial one is rigidly fixed in the joint, and its horns are in close proximity to the condyles. One sharp turn of the shin - and the meniscus does not have time to escape from the displaced process of the bone, the result is its damage or rupture.

Degenerative changes can be different:

separation from the attachment point;
rupture of the horns and body of the meniscus;
excessive mobility as a result of rupture of the intermeniscal ligaments;
cyst - the formation of cavities filled with fluid inside the cartilage;
meniscopathies are dystrophic changes that develop under the influence of minor injuries, as well as as a complication of gout, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, tuberculosis and a number of other diseases.

Characteristic symptoms

If you are haunted by aching pain in your knee, which either disappears or appears with renewed vigor, you can already assume that there are changes in the meniscus. About 90% of pathologies of the knee joint are caused by damage to the “shock absorber”.

Symptoms largely depend on the nature of the pathology. Ruptures are accompanied by severe pain, blockade of the leg in a bent state and swelling. With serious damage to the medial meniscus, hemorrhage into the joint cavity often occurs - hemarthrosis. Significant swelling and severe pain are also characterized by meniscal cystosis.

Tears and detachments from the attachment site are often chronic in nature and are manifested by periodic pain and a feeling of impediment in movement.

There is a diagnostic test: go up and down stairs or slopes. With pathology of the meniscus, the pain in the knee intensifies when moving down.

Secondary degenerative-dystrophic transformations in the medial meniscus, that is, those arising due to other pathologies of the body or diseases, are also characterized by a chronic course. Often in such cases there are clicks and rolling* of the joint during movement after a long period of rest, and sometimes there is pain in the knees. The increase in symptoms occurs gradually as the cartilage layer thins and salts or uric acid crystals accumulate in it (the latter in case of gout). In the absence of adequate treatment, the final stage of meniscopathy becomes contracture - a stable violation (limitation) of joint mobility.

* Rolling – sensations of pathological mobility, instability and displacement of the articular surfaces of bones.

The following symptoms are common to all types of meniscal degeneration:

soreness,
swelling,
joint blockage in a bent position or sensation foreign body in the knee
clicks and crunches,
numbness of the knees after a long period of inactivity.

Causes of degeneration

The anatomical features of the location and structure of the menisci determine the high incidence of pathologies both among young people and among mature people. Most often, athletes, ballerinas, dancers suffer from ruptures, damage and cystosis - that is, people who are in constant motion and experience high loads.

Other possible reasons:

dysplasia – abnormal formation of the knee joint;
gout, syphilis, tuberculosis, rheumatism and other diseases that can affect joints;
sprains of ligaments, as well as their incorrect formation;
flat feet (low shock absorption of the foot is compensated by increased load on the knee);
high physical activity;
excess weight.

Diagnostics

In case of acute injuries to the meniscus, there is usually no doubt - blockade of the knee in a characteristic position, pain and clicks when straightening allow a correct diagnosis to be made in 90% of cases.

It is not always possible to determine degenerative-dystrophic transformations during examination due to the absence of clear symptoms and, often, a positive reaction to special tests. In such cases, instrumental research methods are resorted to:

MRI allows you to obtain a three-dimensional image of all tissues of the knee: the articular surfaces of the bones, the ligamentous apparatus and the joint itself.
During arthroscopy, an endoscope is inserted into the joint cavity through a miniature incision, with which the condition of the tissues and synovial fluid is monitored (on a monitor).

Treatment methods

Therapy for degenerative changes in the menisci completely depends on the nature of the damage. Acute injuries serve as a direct indication for the use of conservative treatment methods:

First of all, a puncture of the joint is performed, eliminating its swelling and restoring mobility. Sometimes several procedures are required, since active exudation (secretion of inflammatory fluid) in the joint lasts up to three to four days.
Analgesics are prescribed, preference is given to narcotic drugs (Promedol and its derivatives), because other drugs in this case, as a rule, are not able to relieve the patient of pain.
Chondroprotectors provide the body with the necessary substances to restore the damaged area of the meniscus.
Anti-inflammatory drugs.
At the rehabilitation stage, physiotherapeutic methods are used as an auxiliary means - ozokerite, UHF, iontophoresis, shock wave therapy.
For 14 days, a splint is applied to the straightened leg to secure the joint in the required position.

In case of ruptures, surgical intervention is indicated: instruments are inserted into the knee joint through two miniature incisions and the damaged area is sutured. Serious injury may require the cartilage lining of the joint to be removed and replaced with an artificial one. All surgical procedures are performed only after signs of inflammation have subsided.

Chronic dystrophies, joint dysplasia and abnormal development of the ligamentous apparatus require exclusively surgical treatment.

If the cause of degeneration is chronic diseases, such as rheumatism and gout, along with surgical methods, the underlying disease is also treated (diet, immunocorrectors and other methods).

Degenerative transformations of the menisci are a fairly common pathology that requires immediate consultation with a specialist. The future functioning of the joint depends on the timeliness of treatment, and delays can cause the spread of degenerative processes to other elements of the joint. Therefore, do not delay your visit to the doctor, take care of yourself and be healthy!

Degenerative changes in the meniscus are its anatomical damage that occurs after injury, a previous disease, or an atypical joint structure. Most often, pathological changes in the menisci occur as a result of injuries, when the cartilage disc is damaged and provokes attacks of pain. Degenerative damage to the internal meniscus occurs more often in men than in women. It occurs in almost half of the cases.

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General information

The human body is an extremely complex mechanism and its work must always be adjusted. Articular cartilage acts as shock absorbers, which normalize and facilitate joint mobility. Cartilage tissue, located in the knee joint in the form of menisci, helps reduce surface friction, improve joint rotation and limit mobility. There are two menisci in the knee joint: the outer (lateral) and the inner (medial).

Degenerative changes in the cartilage pads of the knee joint are characteristic injuries that are the result of injuries (often in athletes); they can be complicated by the course of the disease or structural features of the joint. Among all joint diseases, degenerative changes in the menisci are in first place.

Signs of change are:

rupture of the horns and the body of the meniscus itself;
the formation of a hollow cyst that is filled with fluid;
the development of meniscopathy, a process of degeneration that occurs as a result of rheumatism, tuberculosis;
cartilage tear;
rupture of the ligaments that connect the menisci.

The meniscus is the cartilage layer inside the knee joint, which mainly performs a shock-absorbing function. Ruptures of the joint pads can occur after injuries that occur in young people during physical activity, and can also be degenerative, which occur in older people and can develop without injury against the background of degenerative changes in the meniscus, which is a variant of the course of knee arthrosis.

Failure to treat a traumatic rupture can lead to it subsequently becoming a chronic pathology.

To diagnose a meniscus tear, it is necessary to perform an ultrasound and MRI. Meniscal tears can occur in the anterior horn, posterior horn, and body of the meniscus. Damage to the meniscus can lead to mechanical obstruction of movement and cause pain syndromes.

The loose part of the meniscus provokes the destruction of adjacent cartilage.

A traumatic meniscus tear causes swelling and pain in the knee joint. If the rupture occurs in a place where there are vessels, hemarthrosis occurs. It manifests itself as swelling above the kneecap. When the cartilage pad is damaged, the part that becomes loose and loose can interfere with free movement of the knee. Small tears can cause painful clicking or a feeling of stiffness. With large ruptures, blockade of the joint may occur due to the fact that the torn fragment of the cartilage pad is moved to the center of the joint and provokes “jamming” of the joint.

When the posterior horn of the meniscus is torn, the process of flexion is limited; when the body of the meniscus or its anterior horn is torn, pain occurs during the process of extension in the knee joint. Pain syndromes caused by a rupture of the posterior horn of the meniscus can be so severe that it is impossible to step on the leg, and sometimes a meniscus rupture manifests itself only as pain when making certain movements.

With an acute tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, swelling may develop faster and be more pronounced. Damage to the lateral cartilaginous pad also occurs. Degenerative cartilage tears can occur with the slightest physical exertion, especially when it comes to the older generation. A degenerative tear of the medial meniscus often damages the adjacent cartilage that covers more of the tibia and femur.

General symptoms of cartilage damage:

clicks and crunches;
swelling;
soreness;
when staying in one position for a long time, the knees become numb;
blockade of the joint with bent knees.

Causes of meniscal damage

The structure and anatomical features of the location of the menisci cause a high incidence of pathologies in different age categories. At risk are athletes who are susceptible to ruptures, damage and cystosis.

Possible causes of cartilage lining tears:

improper formation or sprain of ligaments;
flat feet;
improperly formed knee joint;
the presence of gout, syphilis, tuberculosis, rheumatism and other diseases that can affect the joints;
excess weight.

Forms of the disease

Damage to the external meniscus of the knee joint.

Injury to the lateral meniscus in adults is extremely rare. This happens more often with children and adolescents. As a result of this type of injury, blockage is rare.

Symptoms of a lateral meniscus injury include:

pain syndromes in tissues in the area of the collateral ligament;
pronounced synovitis;
unpleasant sensation of pain in the area of the fibular ligament;
low tone in the muscles of the front of the thigh.

If the outer cartilage is torn, the knee joint can be bent at a right angle and the patient himself can unlock it. In general, the signs of this injury are not very pronounced. Diagnosing such an injury is quite problematic due to inconsistent pain. A congenital developmental anomaly is possible - a solid (disc-shaped) external meniscus. It can easily be confused with a cartilage tear. With this pathology, the cartilage has the shape of a disc. Signs of a continuous external meniscus may appear in adolescence, and can also be detected at an older age.

Damage to the medial meniscus of the knee joint

A common injury to the medial meniscus is a tear. Basically, the middle part ruptures while the ends remain intact.

There are three types of medial meniscus injuries:

rupture of the ligament that secures the internal organ;
rupture of the cartilage itself;
rupture of cartilage tissue.

A tear with pinching of the anterior horn of the internal meniscus provokes blocking of the knee joint, which does not cause flexion of the knee. This phenomenon is temporary, since unblocking will restore movement in the joint. Damage to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus is a more serious injury. This causes the knee to lock, pop out, and buckle.

Chronic process of degeneration and injury of the menisci

The process of damage to the left and right cartilage to the same extent.

Causes of meniscus degeneration include:

sharp extension of the leg;
deposition of mucin in tissues;
severe injury;
rheumatism;
gout.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of the disease can be done using the following studies:

Magnetic resonance imaging;
CT scan;
Radiography;
Diagnostic arthroscopy.

In order to make an accurate diagnosis - a meniscus tear, you should consult a specialist. You need to tell him under what circumstances you experience pain. Any changes in the menisci cause pain. During the examination, the hip and knee joint are examined. With effusion, there may be suspicion of the development of hemarthrosis or synovitis.

Researching

X-ray – performed for any pain in the knee joint. It is carried out in the following projections:

Lateral projection;
Direct projection in a standing position and with knees bent at 45°;
Axial projection.

MRI – allows you to see the cartilage in several planes, assess the condition of other periarticular and articular formations, which is important if there are doubts about the diagnosis. MRI is up to 95% accurate in diagnosing meniscus problems. In the sagittal plane, the cartilage pad takes on a butterfly shape. When a rupture occurs, the symptom of a “double posterior cruciate ligament” occurs when the meniscus is adjacent to the posterior cruciate ligament and ends up in the intercondylar fossa of the femur.

Treatment

After diagnostics and confirmation of the diagnosis, the specialist prescribes complex therapeutic methods, including a set of such measures:

performing a puncture from the knee joint;
prescription of physiotherapy: phonophoresis, UHF, iontophoresis, ozokerite;
prescribing analgesics, drugs containing narcotic substances (Promedol), NSAIDs, chondroprotectors (provide the body with substances that help restore the damaged area of the meniscus).

For 2 weeks, a splint is applied to the straightened leg, which ensures fixation of the joint in the desired position. In case of ruptures, chronic dystrophy, joint dysplasia, surgical intervention is performed. If gout or rheumatism is present, the underlying disease that triggered the process of degenerative changes is also treated.

The main treatment method for knee cartilage pathologies is surgery. Arthroscopy is performed, the operation is carried out through two incisions one centimeter long. The torn part of the meniscus is removed, and its inner edge is aligned. After such an operation, the recovery period depends on the patient’s condition, but on average it ranges from 2 days to several weeks.

A pair of pads of cartilage tissue present in the human knee joint are called menisci. Like the cartilaginous discs of the spine, the menisci perform both shock-absorbing and stabilizing functions, protecting the joint from excessive movement and excessive stress.

To increase functionality, there are two types of elastic formations in the human knee:

External (lateral).

Internal (medial).

And although pathological changes in the meniscus do not pose a mortal threat, the patient’s quality of life with any pathology, including a meniscus tear, invariably decreases.

Degenerative changes in the meniscus - what is the danger

Degenerative changes are acquired anomalies of the anatomy of an organ, the cause of which is mechanical damage or any, perhaps even unconscious, injury to the joint. Unlike the outer, more mobile and mobile meniscus, the inner one is rigidly connected to the lateral knee ligament, which often leads to injuries accompanied by severe pain.

The most common degenerative changes in cartilage are:

Violation of the integrity of the ligament at the attachment points of both horns or the body in the paracapsular area.

Transchondral tears of the body and horns of the meniscus.

Meniscopathies of various etiologies, which lead to complications after infectious and a number of autoimmune diseases.

Rupture of the intermeniscal ligaments, leading to pronounced degenerative changes in the joint.

Clinical picture

Manifestations of the disease are quite varied and directly depend on the nature of the damage. The following signs of degenerative changes can be considered common:

Pronounced pain syndrome.

A clearly audible crunch and single clicking sounds in the knee joint.

Inability to fully straighten the leg.

The illusion of the presence of a foreign body in the knee.

Swelling

Morning stiffness, disappearing after attempts to disperse.

Causes of pathology

Most often, degenerative changes are observed among people who lead an active lifestyle and place sufficient stress on the knee joint.

In addition, anatomical damage can be caused by dysplasia, heterogeneous and infectious diseases of internal organs, injuries of the lower extremities and pathological changes in the shape of the foot.

Excess body weight and excessive physical activity can also cause damage to the integrity of the meniscus.

Diagnostics

In the absence of pronounced symptoms that clearly indicate the degenerative-dystrophic nature of the damage, the doctor prescribes a number of non-invasive research methods designed to clarify the diagnosis:

MRI, thanks to which the doctor can see the affected area in different planes.

Arthroscopy, which allows you to examine damage from the inside using an endoscope inserted into the joint.

Therapy

Depending on the nature of the damage, the doctor chooses a type of therapeutic measures, the task of which is to combat the manifestations of the pathology.

If the signs of the disease are acute, the use of conservative therapy is recommended. After the puncture, the doctor prescribes strong painkillers designed to reduce the manifestations of acute pain.

The next treatment stage includes the use of chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy. Two weeks later, after the limb has partially restored its mobility, a splint is applied to it to fix the joint.

If the damage to the joint is in the nature of trauma, as well as in the case of chronic manifestations of the disease, the best way The treatment will be surgery.

In order to keep the knee joint healthy, it is recommended to obtain qualified advice from a Koleno21 specialist at the first signs of degenerative changes. This is the only way you can stop the attack and prevent its further spread.

Degenerative changes in the menisci of the knee joint are common injuries in any age category. Damage is typical for athletes, but it also occurs quite often among ordinary people.

The occurrence of dystrophic changes leads to disruption of the motor system. Accordingly, it is very important to undergo a course of treatment in a timely manner in order to prevent consequences. That is why, when the first symptoms occur, you need to immediately consult a doctor without wasting time. The course of treatment takes a long time.

To fully understand the severity of the damage, you need to know why the meniscus is needed. This is cartilage tissue that acts as a shock absorber in the joint and also stabilizes the knee. The meniscus improves the rotational movements of the entire joint.

Prerequisites for the disease

There are two menisci in the knee:

internal, or lateral;
external, or medial

Anatomy of the menisci in the joint

Due to the structural characteristics of the joint or genetic predisposition degenerative changes in the medial meniscus occur much more often, especially in the posterior horn. There are no arteries in the meniscus, so a comprehensive course of treatment is prescribed. When the disease occurs, swelling immediately forms on the knee, and pain begins to bother you.

The main causes of meniscus degeneration.

Gradually it happens joint wear, accordingly, it is simply impossible to avoid the problem of full knee function in the older age category.
Changes in the knee occur due to sudden load on the joint during extension. Moreover, a rupture is possible.
The risk group includes people who perform daily physical exercise.
The cause may be anatomical or genetic predisposition.
Previously suffered inflammation of the knee joint. In cases of damage to the medial meniscus, the formation of a hollow cyst filled with fluid is observed.

Symptoms of the degenerative process

There are two types of damage:

The main symptomatology of changes in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus;

The acute form of degenerative injury to the knee meniscus can last quite a long time. The chronic form can occur 2 weeks after the rupture occurs. The pain becomes stronger and is constant. The feeling of pain may not go away even during movement. Experts strongly recommend bed rest to avoid further injury to the leg. When the patient begins to walk, a crunching or clicking sound may appear - this signals a joint disease. When palpating the painful part of the body, you may feel a joint ridge.

With chronic degenerative damage to the medial meniscus, thinning of the cartilage tissue often occurs. Are common clinical manifestations when changed they look like this:

redness on the knee;
severe pain, which only intensifies during walking;
crunching sensation while moving.

Reasons for the development of changes

Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the menisci can be diagnosed in a person at any age. People who play sports professionally are at risk. The rupture occurs due to an incorrect sudden movement.

Other reasons also include the presence of flat feet, previously received sprains or incorrect formation of the knee joint, problems directly related to the destruction of the joints (syphilis, gout, tuberculosis, rheumatism and others). The main role is played by a person’s body weight. If you are overweight, the likelihood of developing pathology increases significantly.

Characteristics of traumatic and degenerative meniscal tears

A degenerative tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus is characterized by intermittent pain. This injury occurs more often in older people. The patient exhibits swelling of the injured knee. Considering the severity of the change, the course of treatment lasts quite a long time. The patient is prescribed complex treatment, taking into account all individual characteristics, degree of damage. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate or resort to traditional methods, this will not show the desired result, time will be lost, and complications may arise.

A tear of the lateral meniscus of the knee joint is mainly traumatic in nature. The patient immediately begins to experience severe pain, redness occurs due to the fact that blood accumulates in the damaged area, and swelling of the knee also occurs. Accordingly, the patient must immediately contact doctors for help.

Diagnosis and treatment methods for a damaged knee joint

In cases where the patient has a degenerative-dystrophic rupture of the meniscus of the knee joint in an acute form, confirm the diagnosis quickly enough, due to the fact that at a given period of time the symptoms of the pathology are pronounced. Certain difficulties arise with a chronic form of pathology. In this situation, the patient is prescribed passing a certain examination.

The course of treatment is directly related to the severity of the injury. Degenerative changes in the medial meniscus are treated with conservative methods. In cases where the patient has an accumulation of blood in part of the affected joint, he is prescribed strict bed rest, completely eliminating loads on the damaged knee. As a rule, the course of treatment lasts from 1 to a month. The patient is prescribed special physiotherapeutic procedures, as well as physical therapy, all exercises are performed under the supervision of specialists.

It is necessary to remember that all procedures and exercises begin to be performed only when the inflammatory process is eliminated. In situations where conservative treatment did not show the desired result or the patient had a rupture of the internal meniscus, surgical intervention, since surgery is the only way to help.