Lateral Meniscus Injury

The knee contains two crescent shaped peices of cartilage that attach on top on the tibia (shin bone), one on the medial (inner) aspect and the other on the lateral (outer aspect). These menisci function to

Create an enhanced fit between the femur (thigh) and shin bone
Act as shock absorbers
Improve the flow of synovial fluid (a type of lubricant) with the joint capsule
Transmit force between tibia and femur

The lateral meniscus is less prone to injury than the medial meniscus as it is less firmly attached to the adjacent structures and can therefore ‘get out of the way’ in the event of a sudden forceful impact. The classic mode of injury occurs when the knee rotates forcefully whilst weight-bearing. Injury to the meniscus typically progress as follows

Immediate pain with difficulty in fully extending (straightening) leg
Swelling appears within 24-48 hours
Symptoms resolve within 2 weeks
Recurrent mini episodes of the above sequence of events when the knee gives way when twisting.

Meniscal damage can also result from wear and tear as we get older causing the cartilage to become rough and frayed – more common in middle and old age.

Symptoms

Pain on the lateral (outer) aspect of the joint at the joint line
Swelling (possibly warm) all around knee joint
Reduced range of flexion (bending) possibly limited to 90 degrees
Inability to fully straighten knee
Clicking noise (crepitus)
Knee giving way
Pain aggravated by weight bearing
Pain aggravated by walking on uneven surfaces as knee cannot fully straighten and becomes unstable

What you can do

Apply RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) procedure
Gentle exercise to maintain quadriceps strength
Glucosamine supplement can be taken 1500mg/day