Which meniscus is more commonly torn in younger athletes?

Which meniscus is more commonly torn in younger athletes?

• A. Medial
• B. None
• C. Lateral
• D. Both

Answer: (C)

In younger athletes, tears are more often driven by anatomical differences and acute twisting mechanisms rather than wear-and-tear. The lateral meniscus is particularly prone to injury in this group because discoid lateral meniscus—a thicker, more disk-like shape seen more commonly in youth—predisposes the tissue to tearing during pivoting or twisting motions. The lateral meniscus is also more mobile than the medial, so it can shear more easily under sudden knee twists that occur in sports. In contrast, medial meniscal tears become more common with age, when degenerative changes and fixed attachments increase vulnerability. So, the lateral meniscus is the typical culprit in younger athletes.

In younger athletes, tears are more often driven by anatomical differences and acute twisting mechanisms rather than wear-and-tear. The lateral meniscus is particularly prone to injury in this group because discoid lateral meniscus—a thicker, more disk-like shape seen more commonly in youth—predisposes the tissue to tearing during pivoting or twisting motions. The lateral meniscus is also more mobile than the medial, so it can shear more easily under sudden knee twists that occur in sports. In contrast, medial meniscal tears become more common with age, when degenerative changes and fixed attachments increase vulnerability. So, the lateral meniscus is the typical culprit in younger athletes.