Meniscal Tears
Meniscal tears are common causes of knee pain. The meniscus is a specialized fibrocartilage structure inside the knee that helps with shock absorption, load distribution, joint stability, lubrication, and smooth motion.
A tear may occur suddenly after a twisting injury, gradually as part of age-related degeneration, or from a combination of both. Not every tear seen on MRI requires surgery. Treatment depends on the patient’s symptoms, examination findings, activity level, tear pattern, quality of the meniscal tissue, presence of arthritis, and whether the knee has true mechanical locking.
Key point: MRI findings must be interpreted in clinical context. Degenerative meniscal tears are common in adults and are often treated successfully without surgery.