Knee pain following a slip-and-fall accident in New Jersey may be a sign of a meniscus tear. According to WebMD, tears to the meniscus are among the most common knee injuries. They often occur during athletic activities, but any sudden twisting motion of your knee has the potential to cause a meniscus tear. Because the meniscus becomes weaker with age, your risk of a tear goes up as you get older.
The meniscus is a crescent-shaped structure made of cartilage that provides stability and cushioning to your knee joint. Each of your knees has two menisci, one on either side. A sudden or violent twisting motion of your knee, as might occur with a slip-and-fall accident, can cause an impact to your meniscus that results in a piece of the cartilage tearing off. As your meniscus tears, you may notice a popping sensation in your knee, followed by swelling and pain. Sometimes, the torn portion of your meniscus can become stuck in the knee joint, causing your knee to lock up so that it cannot achieve full range of motion.
You may require surgery to repair or remove the torn portion if the location of the tear is within the inner two-thirds of your meniscus, called the “white zone,” that does not receive sufficient blood supply to facilitate healing. Your surgeon can often perform an arthroscopic meniscus procedure, which is less invasive than open surgery and requires less healing time. If you have a small tear to the “red zone” of your meniscus, where there is a good blood supply, and the tear does not cause your knee to lock up, it may heal on its own with rest and other conservative measures. The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.
If you or someone you know has sustained an injury, whether on the job, on the road, due to a medical professional’s negligence, or otherwise, our firm is here. Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC has helped countless victims of negligence over the years, and we are ready to do the same for you. Contact our firm today so we can get started.
