Meniscus Tear Specialist
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Alan Dayan, MD, PC, FAAOS
NYU Orthopedic Surgeon in Brooklyn, New York & Staten Island, NY
A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries, especially for athletes or weekend warriors. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Alan J. Dayan, MD, specializes in meniscus repair and knee arthroscopy for patients of all ages in Brooklyn, New York, so you can heal and get back to a comfortable activity level. If you experience meniscus tear pain and symptoms, call the office or request an appointment online to receive state-of-the-art treatment from one of New York’s most distinguished orthopedic surgeons.
Meniscus Tear Q & A
What is a meniscus tear?
The menisci are two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as shock absorbers in your knee. Essentially, they provide the cushion between your thigh bone (femur) and your shinbone (tibia). The menisci also help to keep your knee joint stable.
Often the movement of forcefully twisting your knee while putting weight on it can result in a meniscus tear in one of these shock absorbers. Athletes who play a sport like basketball or tennis — both of which require sudden stops or forceful pivoting — are susceptible to meniscus tears. You can also tear a meniscus simply by kneeling or squatting to lift something heavy.
As an older adult, you may experience a meniscus tear more easily during daily activities, especially if you already have a degenerative joint condition like osteoarthritis.
What are the symptoms of a meniscus tear?
Typically, when you tear a meniscus, you feel a popping sensation in your knee as it happens. Once the tear occurs, you may have:
- Swelling around your knee
- Pain and stiffness
- Difficulty rotating or twisting your knee
- Trouble straightening your knee
- Joint instability so you are unable to put weight on your knee
- A locking feeling in your knee joint
If you don’t treat a torn meniscus, a piece of the cartilage may come loose and become lodged under your knee joint. This can make your knee slip out of place or lock into position. It can also lead to osteoarthritis further down the road.
How does Dr. Dayan treat meniscus tears?
Since each meniscus tear is different, Dr. Dayan first examines your knee and may request an MRI to see the extent of damage so he can recommend the most effective treatment. In some cases, a minor meniscus tear can heal with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers to ease discomfort.
If the tear is more severe, you may benefit from knee arthroscopy — one of the most common surgical methods of repairing a meniscus tear. During the procedure, Dr. Dayan makes a small incision in your knee to insert a miniature camera. The camera gives him a clear view inside your knee while he repairs the torn meniscus with surgical instruments.
Dr. Dayan makes additional small incisions around your knee into which he inserts the instruments and repairs the meniscus. In most cases, knee arthroscopy is an outpatient procedure that’s performed under general or local anesthetic. It’s less invasive than open knee surgery, so there’s less pain, swelling, and risk of infection, and recovery time is shorter, as well.
To learn more about meniscus tears, knee arthroscopy, and other treatments, call Dr. Dayan’s office or schedule a consultation online.
