Meniscus Tears Animation

Omaha Meniscus Tears Animation by Dr. Darren Keiser MD

Omaha Meniscus Tear Information

Omaha Meniscus Tear Information by Dr. Darren Keiser MD

omaha meniscus tearsYour knee is the largest joint in your body and one of the most complex. Because you use it so much, it is vulnerable to injury. Because it is made up of so many parts, many different things can go wrong.

Meniscal tears are among the most common knee injuries. Athletes, particularly those who play contact sports, are at risk for meniscal tears. However, anyone at any age can tear a meniscus. When people talk about torn cartilage in the knee, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus.

The meniscus is comprised of two c-shaped wedges of cartilage that cushion and stabilize the knee joint. A torn meniscus is one of the most common injuries to the knee. Young patients in Omaha can tear the meniscus from a traumatic sports related knee injury.

Meniscal tears in older patients can occur through the degenerative wear and tear of life.

Symptoms associated with meniscal tears include pain with walking, twisting, bending or kneeling. Locking or catching sensations in the knee can also occur. Intermittent swelling and limited motion may be present.  

These symptoms are not always constant, as they often occur off and on. Meniscal tears can be detected on MRI scan with a greater than 90% accuracy.

Sudden meniscal tears often happen during sports. Players may squat and twist the knee, causing a tear. Direct contact, like a tackle, is sometimes involved.

Older people are more likely to have degenerative meniscal tears. Cartilage weakens and wears thin over time. Aged, worn tissue is more prone to tears. Just an awkward twist when getting up from a chair may be enough to cause a tear, if the menisci have weakened with age.

How your omaha knee doctor treats your tear will depend on the type of tear you have, its size, and location.

The outside one-third of the meniscus has a rich blood supply. A tear in this “red” zone may heal on its own, or can often be repaired with surgery. A longitudinal tear is an example of this kind of tear.

In contrast, the inner two-thirds of the meniscus lacks a blood supply. Without nutrients from blood, tears in this “white” zone cannot heal. These complex tears are often in thin, worn cartilage. Because the pieces cannot grow back together, tears in this zone are usually surgically trimmed away.

Along with the type of tear you have, your age, activity level, and any related injuries will factor into your treatment plan.

Omaha Meniscus Tear Specialist

Set up an Appointment with Dr. Darren Keiser MD

Dr. Darren Keiser MD
222 N 192nd St.
Elkhorn, NE 68022
(402) 390-4111

Areas for Meniscus Tears:

Dr. Keiser has patients from many different areas in and around Nebraska.

Omaha, Beatrice, Bellevue, Columbus, Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, La Vista, Lexington, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, Papillion, Scottsbluff, South Sioux City.

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Omaha Knee Information by Dr. Darren Keiser MD