Why is the lateral meniscus often associated with a knee injury?

The medial meniscus is more commonly injured because it is firmly attached to the medial collateral ligament and joint capsule. The lateral meniscus, on the outside of the knee, is more circular in shape.

What is a tear of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus?

Anterior horn tear of the lateral meniscus in footballers with a stable knee is characterized by pain at the anterolateral aspect of the knee during knee extension, especially when kicking a ball, and pain during weight-bearing knee extension, together with MRI finding of hyperintense signal in the anterior horn of the …

What ligament would be damaged in a terrible triad injury when the knee is forced into hyperextension?

Disruption of the ACL may occur alone or with other knee injuries, especially a lateral meniscal injury or tear of the MCL. ACL tears are associated with anterior blows that hyperextend the knee, excessive noncontact hyperextension of the knee, and extreme deceleration forces to the knee.

What happens to your knee when you tear your ACL?

Most people who tear their ACL feel pain and a “pop” in their knee when the injury happens. Their knee usually gets swollen soon after the injury. After the swelling goes down, someone with an ACL tear usually can walk. But the knee may feel unstable and can “give way” and make the person stumble or fall.

What happens if you tear your meniscus?

A torn meniscus can lead to a feeling of your knee giving way, inability to move your knee normally or persistent knee pain. You might be more likely to develop osteoarthritis in the injured knee.

Which meniscus is more important?

The lateral meniscus is even more important than the medial meniscus for shock absorption. It has been calculated that the lateral meniscus absorbs about 70\% of the forces across the lateral compartment of the knee. Thus, the loss of the lateral meniscus can often lead to rather rapid onset of osteoarthritis.

How serious is a lateral meniscus tear?

If a tear of the lateral meniscus occurs, it can be minor or severe. In a severe lateral meniscus tear, the meniscus can be torn in half, ripped around its circumference, or ripped to the extent that it hangs on by a fiber.

What happens if your knee bends sideways?

During hyperextension, the knee joint bends the wrong way, which often results in swelling, pain and tissue damage. In severe cases, ligaments such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), or popliteal ligament (the ligament along the back of the knee) may be sprained or ruptured.

How does terrible triad affect normal knee function?

The unhappy triad usually results from a hard blow to your lower leg while your foot is planted on the ground. This pushes your knee inward, which it isn’t used to doing. It also causes your femur and tibia to twist in opposite directions.

Is surgery necessary for ACL tear?

ACL injuries can either be complete or partial. While complete ACL tears almost always require surgery, partial ACL tears may be treated effectively with nonsurgical methods. ACL tears are graded by severity and are called sprains (a sprain is a stretch or tear in a ligament).