The knee contains two menisci, a fibrocartilaginous material which functions as stabilizers of the knee and provide a measure of shock absorption.
Some meniscal tears heal spontaneously after a period of rest, elevation and icing.
Crutches are often used until the patient can walk without pain. Physical therapy would include range of motion and a quadriceps strengthening program to decrease edema and regain any muscle tone that may have been lost. Arthroscopically, the meniscus could be repaired or partially removed with potentially excellent results. However, full exercise program would be the first choice in conservative management. Click here to see a listing of surgeons who perform meniscus transplant surgery.