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Menisci are cartilage that help stabilise and facilitate joint movement. When they are worn out with poor elasticity due to age, a mild trauma is enough to cause its injury.
When they get injured, the most common manifestations are movement limitation, pain, swelling and cracking.
The diagnosis is reached through the patient's clinical history and a physical examination. It will be completed once an ultrasound and/or MRI is performed.
In mild injuries, the treatment tends to be conservative by resting and administering anti-inflammatory medication. In more severe cases, an arthroscopy or reparative surgery will be performed to remove fractured pieces.
- Dennis A Cardone, DO. Bret C Jacobs, DO, MA. Meniscal injury of the knee. UpToDate. Sep 16, 2016.
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Dr. Sara Vitoria
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