To ensure a smooth gait, normal mobility and amortization of the joint, thin interlayers of cartilaginous tissue, called menisci, are located in it. In each knee they are paired, internal and external. They consist of 3 parts: the body, front and rear horn. The medial meniscus or inner is less mobile. In view of this, he is subject to various injuries and degenerative changes, often irreversible.
Severe damage to the medial knee joint meniscus
The non-dangerous injuries of the cartilaginous layer include:
- bruises ;
- pinching;
- tears.
Such damage is accompanied by acute pain syndrome and signs of inflammation, but they are amenable to drug therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors . As a rule, after 2-3 weeks all clinical manifestations of pathology completely disappear, joint mobility and its extensor functions are restored.
Rupture or separation of the medial meniscus of the knee joint
The described trauma is considered a serious injury, as it leads to displacement of the torn parts of the cartilaginous layer in the joint, strong, sometimes complete, restriction of knee mobility. This pathology is also accompanied by severe pain and signs of inflammation.
Moreover, the rupture of the posterior or anterior horn of the medial meniscus can provoke degenerative changes in the knee joint of an irreversible nature. It is fraught with lifelong complications and even subsequent disability.
Heavy damage to the cartilaginous layer is treated surgically. After surgery, a long course of restorative medication and physiotherapy is conducted. In addition, therapeutic massage is prescribed, and special exercises are performed to normalize the mobility of the joint.