Meniscus Deficiency

What is a meniscus deficiency?

The meniscus is made of two crescent-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage found in the knee. The lateral meniscus can be found on the outside of the knee, while the medial meniscus is found on the inside of the knee. Both act to absorb the pressure placed on the femur and tibia bones (upper and lower leg bones) while walking, running, jumping, or engaging in other activities. The meniscus can also provide stability to the knee and allows the bones to gently glide over each other with movement. A significant injury or tear to this cushion may result in a condition known as meniscus deficiency. The padding in the knee becomes no longer functions appropriately, leading to extra stress on the knee, progressively worse alignment of the knee joint, and eventual arthritis. Dr. Joseph Lamplot, orthopedic knee specialist, treats patients in Arlington Heights, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and the surrounding Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL, who have meniscus deficiency.

What is the cause of a meniscal deficiency in the knee?

The most common cause of a meniscal deficiency is prior surgery or a torn meniscus. Meniscus tears of the knee can make this tissue nonfunctional and cannot be healed by the body because the meniscus has a very limited blood supply. Oftentimes, a patient may have to undergo a procedure called a partial meniscectomy, which is the most common orthopedic procedure performed in the world, to remove a nonfunctional torn piece of meniscus. This procedure is very effective in alleviating the symptoms of a torn meniscus, however, it also may lead to meniscal deficiency resulting from the original meniscus tear. The onset of meniscal deficiency can lead to problems in the knee joint such as osteoarthritis or improper alignment of the knee. It is important to note that this can occur in patients of all ages, from young athletes to the elderly and everyone in between.

What are the symptoms of a deficient meniscus?

Pain
Loss of function or stiffness of the knee
Sensations of “locking,” “buckling,” or “catching” in the knee while walking
Swelling
A “popping” sensation at the time of injury

How can you tell if you have meniscal deficiency? (How is it diagnosed)

Dr. Lamplot will first review an extensive medical history with the patient, particularly focused on any previous knee injuries and current physical activities. Dr. Lamplot will also perform a physical examination and may order further diagnostic imaging such as an X-ray or MRI scan to identify a torn meniscus, the extent of present injury, or the presence of meniscus deficiency.

What is the treatment for a meniscus deficiency?

Non-Surgical:

Pain management through NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory medications)
Weight loss or activity alterations
Corticosteroid injections, viscosupplementation (gel) injections
Bracing and/or Physical Therapy tailored to the needs of each patient

Surgical:

Knee Debridement Arthroscopy: Used to remove nonfunctional portions of tissue following a meniscus tear.
Surgical Repair of the Meniscus: Sometimes the Meniscus with a healthy supply of blood may be able to be reattached to return normal function to the tissue.
High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO): Procedure where the tibia (shin-bone) is cut and shifted to re-align the knee joint to even the load placed across the knee. This relieves excess pressure in areas where the meniscus is non-functional.
Meniscus Transplantation: Tissue from a donor is placed into the knee to replace the deficient meniscus.