Bucket Handle Meniscus Tear
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Injuries to the meniscus are common and can occur at any age. There are two menisci and they act as shock absorbers in the knee – damage to a meniscus can lead to problems within the knee and arthritis.
If the meniscus has been injured through wear and tear with arthritis also being present in the knee then it can be treated without surgery. Physiotherapy, activity modification and pain relief medications can help the symptoms.
Some tears can be serious and require surgery. People with significant tears may experience pain, inability to bend or straighten the knee, pain on walking and may have a limp.
Sometimes, the meniscus can tear and flip inside the knee. When this happens the knee will not be able to fully straighten. This is called a bucket handle tear. The torn meniscus may have to be removed. It is possible to fix a bucket handle meniscus. A meniscus tear surgeon at Victorian Bone and Joint Specialists will assess the movement of the knee and will likely order an MRI scan if this hasn’t been done already.
If the tear can be fixed then surgery to place sutures in to hold the meniscus can be performed, usually through keyhole surgery. If the tear cannot be fixed then the torn portion of the meniscus is smoothed over through keyhole surgery. Your surgeon at Victorian Bone and Joint Specialists will discuss this with you.
Once fixed, you can normally begin to move the knee under the instruction of your surgeon. Normally, a brace will be applied either after surgery or at the two week review. The knee movement will be restricted to begin with in the brace.
You will require physiotherapy to help move the knee as time goes on.
Try to leave the crepe bandage and soft bandage on for a week. If it gets loose and comes off that’s ok. Keep the dry. A bag may be need to cover the knee in the shower.
There are risks with surgery. These include infection, and failure of the meniscus to heal once it has been repaired. Arthritis may occur in the future as a result of the damage caused by the injury. Your specialist knee surgeons at Victorian Bone and Joint can discuss the risks of surgery with you.
