Dr. William Sterett

Eagle County’s Most Trusted Meniscus Doctor

Expertly Treating Meniscus Tears in the Vail Valley 

A meniscus tear can cause debilitating pain and impact your day-to-day movements. Treating meniscus tears depends on several factors - including your age, symptoms, and tear severity.

What is a Meniscus Tear?

Your knee joint has two pieces of cartilage.

The meniscus is the horseshoe-shaped piece of cartilage that acts like a sponge to cushion the femur and tibia bones.

Twisting the knee from side to side puts strain on the meniscus and can cause it to tear.

There are several different types of meniscus tears, including:

  1. Horizontal Meniscus Tear

  2. Radial Meniscus Tear

  3. Flap Meniscus Tear

  4. Bucket-Handle Meniscus Tear

  5. Complex Meniscus Tear

  6. Incomplete Meniscus Tear

Click here to learn more about the different types of meniscus tears.

What are the Symptoms of a Torn Meniscus?

Meniscus injuries are typically the result of forcefully twisting or rotating the knee. 

After tearing the meniscus, patients can experience some (or all) of the symptoms below:

  • A Popping sensation

  • Stiffness and impacted range of motion

  • Swelling and tenderness

  • Pain that worsens with pressure on the joint

  • Knee instability or locking

Dr. Sterett and his team will diagnose a torn meniscus during a physical exam, which could include x-rays and an MRI. Accurately diagnosing the exact type of meniscus tear will allow Dr. Sterett to recommend the best treatment plan for the patient.

Do Meniscus Tears Require Surgery? 

Because different areas of the meniscus have different amounts of blood supply, some meniscus tears can heal with conservative treatment while others require surgical intervention.

Nonsurgical methods for treating meniscus tears include:

  • Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE)

  • Bracing

  • Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

  • Steroid Injections

  • Physical Therapy

Meniscus surgery is almost always needed when:

  • The meniscus tear occurs in an area that lacks blood flow

  • Knee movement is affected by the meniscus tear

  • The meniscus tear is complex

Although Dr. Sterett always recommends conservative methods whenever possible, meniscus surgery can also prevent the risk of developing other joint conditions further down the line. 

Can You Tear Your Meniscus and ACL at the Same Time?

The ACL and meniscus can tear at the same time. This usually occurs when a twisting motion causes the ACL to tear and (as the knee rotation continues) "flips" the meniscus up into the wrong place. 

A meniscus injury alongside an ACL tear can impact the knee's ability to fully straighten, causing severe pain and swelling. When this occurs, Dr. Sterett will often recommend repairing the torn ACL and meniscus in one surgery. Do so has the following benefits:

  1. Reducing the risk of scar tissue from multiple surgeries

  2. Allows Dr. Sterett to evaluate the meniscus tear's healing as he performs the ACL reconstruction

  3. Permits a more aggressive rehabilitation plan and recovery timeline

To learn more about this approach, click here.

dr. Sterett: Eagle County's Meniscus Specialist

Dr. Sterett is one of the leading knee injury experts in the Vail Valley. With over 20 years of experience as the Head Physician for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team, Dr. Sterett always makes recommendations with the patient's lifestyle in mind.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sterett, contact his team at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery today by calling (970) 476-7220 or submitting an appointment request form.