

Orthopedic surgeons and physicians will be able to test whether you have a meniscus tear and diagnose the type and severity you have through a variety of assessments. It’s more difficult to diagnose a lateral meniscus tear than a medial meniscus tearbecause of its shape and location and it may go unnoticed until it is much larger.

Your doctor will propably begin with your medical history, your current condition and symptoms, the intensity of your pain, the duration of your symptoms, and any limitations you may have. Details about what how the problem began, when it started, and whether or not you have ever had treatments (for this or a similar condition in the past) are very helpful in assessing your injury.

Common Meniscus Physical Examinations


A physical exam will be performed to determine if you have any signs of a meniscus tear or possibly another knee injury. Your doctor will visually assess and palpate (feel) the bones and soft tissue in and around both of your knees to evaluate symmetry and spot any differences. This will identify abnormalities such as inflammation, bone deformity, and atrophied muscles. He/she willpress on the injured side of your knee joint to test for point tenderness and help determine the location of your injury or tear. He/she may ask you tocomplete a series of knee and leg movements such as moving your knee from a straight to bent position (or vice versa), or rotating your knee to see what motions cause pain, weakness, instability and/or grinding, catching, popping or locking. Your knee will also be inspected for fluid, swelling and warmth.




Common Meniscus Tear Diagnostic Tests

X-ray of the knee



CAT scans (or CT – computerized tomography) can be used to provide a 3-dimensional assessment of the bones and soft tissues in and around your knee joint and may be used to identify a meniscus tear.

Meniscus tear image


The type of test recommended will depend on your symptoms and the opinion of your medical professional. Other methods such as diagnostic ultrasound, electromyogram, or arthroscopic surgery can be used to determine the degree and location of your meniscus tear if required.

Describing a Meniscal Tear


Tear Location

Blood supply to the injured area is critical to healing, therefore, where the tear is located will partially determine its ability to heal. The fibrocartilage of the meniscus has limited blood flow compared to other soft tissue in the body and this can make it difficult for the body to heal a meniscus tear on its own. The amount of blood vessels throughout the meniscus varies. The meniscus can be broken into the red zone (outer portion of the meniscus that is vascular), the middle body (central part with fewer blood vessels), and the white zone (inner third containing no blood vessels); tears in the red zone have the best chance of healing because they have more access to blood supply.

Meniscus tear blood supply zones

    • Red-on-Red meniscus tear is in the red zone (the outer part of your meniscus and knee joint). Both sides of the tear are in tissue that receives a good supply of blood; as a result it experiences a quick healing rate.


    • Red-on-White meniscus tear is between the red zone and the middle (includes the outside rim and center portion of your meniscus). This type of meniscus tear heals slowly, as the outer edge of the tear generally receives good blood supply and the inner part of the tear doesn’t. Surgeons will often suture when a tear occurs in this zone to assist with healing.


  • White-on-White meniscus tear is in the white zone (the middle and inner part of your meniscus). This area of the meniscus receives little blood supply and has a poor healing rate. A bucket handle tear in the white-on-white zone is usually removed surgically as healing is very unlikely.

Tear Types

Your knee joint can also be divided into the anterior horn (mobile, curved portion at front of meniscus), the posterior horn (less mobile, curved portion at back of the meniscus) and the body (middle section of the meniscus, thicker on outside and thinner on the inside). There are 3 types of meniscal tearsyou can experience in these locations:

Meniscus tear

    • partial meniscus tear (partial thickness in depth – meniscus still remain attached) tends to be smaller and more stable because it stays connected to the front and back of your knee and doesn’t move about freely. Depending on the location, a partial tear can heal well with non-invasive methods.





Tear Shapes


Longitudinal Tear (Circumferential Tear)


Longitudinal tears and more severe displaced bucket handle tear


Horizontal Tear (Cleavage Tear)


Horizontal tear and more severe displaced horizontal flap tear


Radial Tear (Free-Edge Transverse Tear)

A radial tear starts as a sharp split along the inner edge of your meniscusand eventually runs part way or all the way through your meniscus, dividing it into a front and back section (across the middle body instead of down the length). This tear generally occurs between the posterior horn and middle section and is seen frequently in your lateral meniscus.

Radial tear and more severe Parrot's Beak tear

A small tear is difficult to notice, but when it grows and becomes a complete tear it will open up and look like a part is missing. This is called a Parrot’s Beak tear (displaced radial tear with a curved inner portion). It generally occurs in the thicker portion of your lateral meniscus. As it gets larger, it will catch or lock more frequently, and prevent your meniscus from protecting the articular cartilage during weight bearing. This tear is the result of a traumatic event or forceful and repetitive stress activities and it is often associated with other injuries such as ACL tears.Young athletes tend to suffer from combination tears called radial/parrot beak tears (the meniscus splits in 2 directions).

Meniscus Tear and Knee Pain Treatments

It is the blood in your body that heals and repairs damage to your tissue. By transporting oxygen and nutrients to the damaged tissue and flushing away dead cells, your blood helps your body to heal itself. Unfortunately, when a meniscus injury occurs and you have knee pain you need to prevent further injury and rest the area to allow it to heal. By resting, you actually limit the flow of blood and slow the healing process. The trick is to slow tissue damage, reduce scar tissue, and generate blood flow to speed healing and prevent further damage.