The meniscus is one of the most commonly injured structures in the knee. Meniscal injuries can occur in any age group, but causes are somewhat different for each age group. In younger people, the meniscus is fairly tough and rubbery, and tears usually occur as a result of a fairly forceful twisting injury. In the younger age group, meniscal tears are more likely to be caused by athletic activity (Sutton, 1999). In older people, the meniscus …showed first 75 words of 1796 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1796 total…Young people with relatively recent meniscal tears are the most likely to have a successful repair. Degenerative type tears in older people are not usually repairable. It is very important to evaluate and manage a meniscal tear in order to prevent long term effects with in the knee. If the meniscal tear goes untreated it could cause constant rubbing of the torn meniscus on the articular cartilage, which could lead to degeneration of the joint.