What type of forces typically cause a meniscus injury?

What type of forces typically cause a meniscus injury?

• A. Combination of tibiofemoral joint flexion, compression, and rotation placing abnormal shear stress in the meniscus
• B. Pure flexion with no rotation
• C. Axial compression alone
• D. Valgus stress with rotation

Answer: (A)

Meniscal tears are most often caused by a twisting, weight-bearing force that places shear stress inside the meniscus. When the knee is flexed, loaded, and rotated, the femur slides and twists on the tibia, generating shear forces in the meniscal tissue that can tear it. This combination of flexion, compression, and rotation matches the typical injury mechanism. Pure flexion without rotation doesn’t create those twisting shear forces needed for a tear, and axial compression alone mainly compresses joint surfaces rather than shear the fibrous tissue. Valgus stress with rotation can contribute in some scenarios, but the classic, most common mechanism is the knee being flexed, loaded, and rotated to produce abnormal shear within the meniscus.

Meniscal tears are most often caused by a twisting, weight-bearing force that places shear stress inside the meniscus. When the knee is flexed, loaded, and rotated, the femur slides and twists on the tibia, generating shear forces in the meniscal tissue that can tear it. This combination of flexion, compression, and rotation matches the typical injury mechanism.

Pure flexion without rotation doesn’t create those twisting shear forces needed for a tear, and axial compression alone mainly compresses joint surfaces rather than shear the fibrous tissue. Valgus stress with rotation can contribute in some scenarios, but the classic, most common mechanism is the knee being flexed, loaded, and rotated to produce abnormal shear within the meniscus.