Knee Problems Archives

4.4 mm long flap tear in articular cartilage

Hello Dr Stoll, I appreciate your bulletin, its a great help to the world.
I started feeling a mild pain in my right knee 3 weeks back, which gradually incresed so much that I m on crutches today. I m not sure if blame for this problem goes to the fall I had 4 weeks back while ice skating or not, as I was perfectly all right after that fall and was able to continue my regular morning jogs and all for almost 1 week. As it started paining it became difficult to climb satircase and jog, though I dint stop doing so considering it just a casual pain till it became real bad.(did I torture it and made it worse??)
Here are the impressions from MRI.
* Contusion of the medial aspect of Patella extending into subchondral bone.
* Fissure and/or articular flap involving the cartilage of medial patellar facet.
* knee joint effusion
* Mucoid degeneration in mensci without tear.
* Signal changes in the origin of medial head of gastrocnemius that most likely represent old post-traumatic change in tendinitis.

Is it major injury ,difficult to recover without surgery? Would 15 visits to physiotherapist be beneficial to this case?I m not overweight and 27 yrs old female.

Follow Ups:

• Re: 4.4 mm long flap tear in articular cartilage (Archive in knee.) Walt Stoll 07:54:43 4/13/03 (0)

In Reply to: 4.4 mm long flap tear in articular cartilage posted by Smita on April 12, 2003 at 23:27:25:

Hi, Smita.

My interpretation of your damage (undoubtedly due to your fall) is that things have not progressed to the point where you might not be able to totally reverse this.

However, you must stop all forms of weight bearing exercise and start daily underwater exercises. Every community with an indoor pool has community supported programs to show you what to do. You also will need a flexibility exercise for your lower body. Alexander Technique (archives) will also magnify your efforts. Finally glucosamine sulphate, 750 milligrams twice a day, omega 3's 200 milligrams twice a day, will help speed recovery.

If you want to educate your doc, wait a year and repeat the MRI.

Let us know how you do.

Walt