Mr Oni holding the extended leg of a female patient during examination, he is wearing a blazer and standing next to her bed.

conditions

Meniscal Tears

The knee that catches, locks or gives way, often after a twist, a sharp pain on the inside of the joint, or swelling that comes and goes. Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries, and many settle without surgery. Mr Oni will find out what is going on and talk you through your options.

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What is a meniscal tear?

Meniscus tear: damage to the knee's shock-absorbing cartilage

Each knee has two menisci, C-shaped pieces of cartilage that sit between the thigh bone and the shin bone, one on the inner side and one on the outer side. They work as the knee's shock absorbers, cushioning the joint and spreading load across it, and they help keep the knee stable. A meniscal tear is damage to one of these cartilages.

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Tears tend to happen in one of two ways. A sudden twist of the knee, often during sport or when turning on a bent knee, can tear an otherwise healthy meniscus, which is more common in younger, active people. In others the cartilage weakens gradually with age and tears with little or no injury, sometimes simply from squatting or standing up, which is more common over the age of 45 and often goes hand in hand with early knee arthritis. The meniscus on the inner side of the knee is the one most commonly affected.

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A torn meniscus often produces mechanical symptoms, the knee catching, locking, or giving way, along with pain and swelling. The encouraging news is that many tears, particularly degenerative ones, settle with the right care, and where surgery is needed it is usually a short keyhole procedure.

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Mr Oni focuses on meniscal injuries, cartilage damage, arthritis and mechanical knee problems. He does not routinely carry out acute ligament reconstruction, such as ACL surgery, but he is happy to assess complex knee symptoms and advise on the right next steps.

knee with sports tape across the kneecap

Recognising the condition

Common symptoms of a meniscal tear

The pain from a meniscal tear is usually felt along the joint line, often on the inner side of the knee, and it tends to be worse when twisting, squatting, or going up and down stairs. Many people also notice the knee swelling after activity and mechanical symptoms, a catching, clicking or locking sensation, or a feeling that the knee might give way. These are the signs and symptoms patients most commonly notice.

Pain along the joint line

A sharp or aching pain felt along the joint line of the knee, most often on the inner side.

Catching or clicking

A sensation of the knee catching, clicking or snagging as it moves, as the torn cartilage gets in the way.

Locking

The knee sticking or briefly locking so it will not fully straighten, which tends to happen with larger tears.

The knee giving way

A feeling that the knee might buckle or give out, especially when twisting or changing direction.

Swelling after activity

The knee swelling, sometimes a few hours after the activity that aggravated it.

Pain on twisting or squatting

Discomfort when pivoting, squatting, kneeling, or getting up from a low chair.

Difficulty with stairs

Pain or hesitation going up or down stairs, or on slopes and uneven ground.

Reduced confidence in the knee

A sense that the knee is unreliable, making you cautious with sport or everyday movement.

Catching, locking and giving way can come from several knee problems, not only a meniscal tear, including knee arthritis, loose fragments of cartilage, and other causes of knee instability or knee locking. Because the treatment differs, an accurate diagnosis matters, and Mr Oni will pinpoint the cause, usually with an examination and an MRI scan, at your first appointment.

A meniscal tear happens in one of two main ways. The first is a sudden injury, typically a twist or turn on a planted, bent knee, which can tear an otherwise healthy meniscus, and this is what tends to happen in sport. The second is gradual wear, where the cartilage weakens with age and tears with very little force, sometimes just from squatting or rising from a chair.

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Several things make a tear more likely, including being over 40, sports that involve twisting and pivoting, work that involves a lot of kneeling or squatting, and existing knee arthritis, which leaves the worn joint surfaces putting extra strain on the meniscus. The meniscus on the inner side of the knee is torn far more often than the one on the outer side.

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Tears also vary in their pattern and size, and this matters because it shapes both the symptoms and the treatment. A small, stable tear may settle on its own, while certain patterns, such as a bucket-handle tear, can cause the knee to lock.

Traumatic tears

Common in younger, active people. A sudden twist or turn on a bent knee, often during sport, tears an otherwise healthy meniscus.

Degenerative tears

More common with age, usually over 45. The cartilage weakens over time and tears with little or no injury, often alongside early knee arthritis.

Bucket-handle tears

A specific tear pattern where a fragment of cartilage flips into the joint, the type most likely to cause the knee to lock or get stuck.

causes and types

What causes a meniscal tear?

Mr oni holding the knee and calf of a female patient during an examination of meniscal tears.

how mr oni Helps

diagnosis & Next Steps

Getting the diagnosis right comes first. Mr Oni can usually tell a great deal from your symptoms and a careful examination of the knee, checking for tenderness along the joint line and using specific movement tests that gently stress the meniscus. An MRI scan is the key investigation here, it shows the cartilage clearly and confirms the size and pattern of the tear, which is what guides the right treatment. That way your next steps are based on a clear picture, not assumptions.

01

consultation

A thorough consultation reviewing your symptoms, movement, and any existing imaging. No assumptions, no rushed conclusions.

02

clinical examination

A hands-on assessment of the joint - checking movement, strength and what triggers your pain - to understand exactly what's going on.

03

imaging

Where needed, an X-ray or scan to confirm the diagnosis and see the joint clearly, so nothing is left to guesswork.

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treatment plan

Every option considered. From load management and physiotherapy to further investigations and surgical options. A plan built around your lifestyle and goals, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

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with the right treatment

life after treatment

A knee that moves smoothly again

With the tear treated, the catching, clicking and locking settle, and the knee bends and straightens freely again.

Back to sport and activity

Twisting, pivoting, running and the sports you enjoy become possible again once the knee is stable and pain-free.

Confidence in the knee

The knee stops feeling as though it might give way, so you can move, turn and change direction without second-guessing it.

Everyday movement without pain

Stairs, squatting, kneeling and getting up from a low chair stop being the moments that catch you out.

Recognising the condition

How a meniscal tear is treated

Not every meniscal tear needs surgery. Many tears, especially degenerative ones, settle with physiotherapy to build strength and calm the knee down, and that is usually where Mr Oni starts. Where there is associated arthritis, a steroid or Arthrosamid injection can ease pain and inflammation. When a tear keeps catching or locking the knee, or simply will not settle, a short keyhole operation, knee arthroscopy, can trim or repair the damaged cartilage. Mr Oni will recommend the right approach for your tear.

related treatments

Arthrosamid Injection

A non-surgical injectable treatment for knee osteoarthritis that can provide lasting relief from joint pain.

Arthrosamid Injection
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Hands blue glove with black sleeves, holding an arthrosamid injection needle in both hands.

related treatments

Knee Arthroscopy

Keyhole knee surgery to diagnose and treat mechanical problems such as a torn meniscus, a loose fragment, or a knee that locks or catches.

Knee Arthroscopy
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a close up image of surgeons hands holding knee arthroscopy equipment. the handles and probes are visible only.
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Patient Stories

Hear from patients who have undergone investigations and treatments for their hip and knee problems with Mr Oni.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mr Richard M.

Mr Oni explained everything clearly and the whole process was faultless. I was walking the corridors within two days and driving again in a fortnight. The scar is so neat you can hardly see it.

Treatment

Hip Replacement

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mr Robert F.

Mr Oni and the team were very professional throughout. The recovery was tough, but I stuck to the exercises and only needed over-the-counter painkillers. Two months on, I completed a nine-mile bike ride.

Treatment

Robotic Knee Replacement

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ms Liz.

Mr Oni and Libby are a really good team and made me feel completely comfortable. I'd been limping for a year, but almost marched into my follow-up. I've got my life back.

Treatment

Arthrosamid Injection

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mr Tony G.

Mr Oni gave me real confidence going into surgery, and I cannot fault my experience. I'm back to walking the dogs, gardening and farm work. The steep hills that once bothered me, now I don't even notice.

Treatment

Robotic Knee Replacement

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ms Zoe G.

Mr Oni and the team were incredibly supportive, kind and patient. I was walking with a frame the same day and dressing myself the next morning. Within two weeks I could pick my daughter up from school.

Treatment

Hip Replacement

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mr Ian F.

Mr Oni recommended the Arthrosamid injection and everything has been brilliant. Two weeks later I was rotovating the garden for two hours. It felt like some sort of miracle, I didn't notice I'd had bad knees.

Treatment

Arthrosamid Injection

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Take the next step

Book a consultation about your knee

If your knee is catching, locking or giving way, Mr Oni will examine it, arrange an MRI where needed, and explain exactly what is going on. From there he will talk you through a clear plan, often physiotherapy, and sometimes a short keyhole procedure, only if it is genuinely needed. No pressure, no assumptions.

Book your Consultation
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locations

Mr Oni consults and operates at several leading private hospitals across the region, so you can choose the location most convenient for you.

Exterior Image of The Horder Centre Crowborough East Sussex

The Horder Centre

St John's Road
Crowborough
East Sussex
TN6 1XP

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Exterior Image of the Nuffield Health Private Hospital in Tunbridge Wells

Nuffield Health

Kingswood Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN2 4UL

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Exterior Image of the Vale Health Clinic in Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Vale Health Clinic

31-33 Vale Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN1 1BS

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Frequently asked questions

Some can. Small tears in the outer rim of the meniscus, where the blood supply is better, sometimes heal, particularly in younger people. Many tears, especially degenerative ones, do not fully heal, but the good news is that the symptoms often settle with the right treatment even when the tear itself remains.

No, far from it. Many tears improve with physiotherapy, and where there is associated arthritis an injection can help. Mr Oni usually recommends surgery only when the knee keeps locking or catching, or when symptoms simply will not settle with non-surgical treatment.

Recovery from a keyhole procedure is usually quick. Most people are walking the same day, back to desk-based work within a week or so, and returning to sport within about four to eight weeks, depending on the tear and exactly what was done.

It can. A tear that keeps the knee swollen or mechanically irritated can add to the wear on the joint over time, which is one reason it is worth having persistent symptoms assessed rather than pushing through them.

Knee arthritis is gradual wear of the smooth surface of the joint, while a meniscal tear is damage to the cushioning cartilage that sits within it. The two often go together, and an MRI helps Mr Oni see how much each one is contributing to your symptoms.

Often yes, with the right adjustments. Low-impact activity and targeted exercises can actually help by supporting the knee, while sudden twisting and deep squatting are best avoided until things settle. A physiotherapist can guide you on what is safe for your knee.

Answers written by Mr Tofunmi Oni, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon (MBChB BSc PGDip FRCS (Tr & Orth), GMC 7074916). Mr Oni does not perform ligament reconstruction and refers patients who need it to a specialist ligament surgeon. Figures come from the NHS, the British Association for Surgery of the Knee and the trials listed in the sources at the end. Last reviewed October 2026.

Will a meniscus tear heal on its own?

Sometimes. The outer third of the meniscus has a blood supply, so some acute tears there can heal or be repaired. Tears in the inner part, which includes most degenerative tears in people over 40, do not heal, but they very often stop causing symptoms with time and rehabilitation. The NHS states that a meniscus tear can get better on its own without treatment, though it can take a while.

Do all meniscal tears need surgery?

No, most do not. UK guidance from the British Association for Surgery of the Knee is at least three months of non operative treatment first for degenerative tears, extended in its 2026 statement to three to six months of structured physiotherapy, with surgery reserved for a locked knee, a repairable tear after injury, or persistent mechanical symptoms that have not responded to rehabilitation. The FIDELITY trial found that trimming a degenerative tear was no better than a sham operation, and the ESCAPE trial found physiotherapy as good as surgery at five years.

Does a torn meniscus hurt all the time?

Usually not. Most tears hurt with twisting, squatting, kneeling or deep bending rather than constantly, and a large share of tears seen on MRI cause no symptoms at all: in one study 31% of people over 50 had a tear on MRI and more than half of those had no pain. Constant pain, a knee that will not straighten or a knee that will not take weight are the features that need prompt assessment.

Can I walk, climb stairs or exercise with a torn meniscus?

Walking is fine and is encouraged after the first few days of rest. Stairs and exercise can continue within comfort, avoiding deep squats, kneeling and pivoting sports until the knee has been assessed. The NHS advises rest and ice for the first few days, then gentle movement; stopping moving altogether makes recovery slower.

How long is too long to leave a torn meniscus?

For a degenerative tear there is no deadline: a three to six month course of rehabilitation first is the UK standard, and five year trial data show no disadvantage from choosing physiotherapy. The exception is a tear that might be repairable after an injury, usually in a younger person, where earlier surgery gives better results; repairs done within six weeks succeed about 83% of the time, against 52% when done late. A locked knee should be seen within days.

What are the signs that a meniscus tear is getting worse?

A knee that stays bent and will not straighten, recurrent true locking, increasing swelling, giving way, or an inability to bear weight. These suggest a fragment of the tear has displaced and is catching in the joint, and they are the situations where arthroscopy is clearly the right treatment.

Can a meniscal tear be diagnosed without an MRI?

Often, yes. A history of a twisting injury, tenderness along the joint line and provocation tests such as McMurray's and Thessaly's give a reasonable clinical diagnosis. MRI confirms it and helps plan surgery, with sensitivity around 90% for medial tears, but because tears are so common in people without symptoms a positive scan does not prove the tear is the cause of the pain. That is why I examine the knee before I look at the scan.

What is commonly mistaken for a meniscus tear?

Osteoarthritis, which coexists with meniscal damage in over 80% of arthritic knees; fat pad or plica irritation at the front of the knee; loose bodies; ligament injury; and referred pain from the hip. The reverse happens too: a degenerative tear found on MRI gets blamed for pain that is actually coming from early arthritis.

What should I not do with a meniscus tear?

Avoid deep squats, kneeling, pivoting sports and heavy lifting while the knee is symptomatic, and do not carry anything heavy in the first weeks. Do not stop moving altogether, and do not ignore a knee that will not straighten.

Can an untreated meniscal tear lead to arthritis?

Meniscal damage and arthritis are closely linked, but it is not clear that leaving a degenerative tear alone causes arthritis, and trimming it does not protect the knee. The FIDELITY trial found slightly more X ray arthritis after surgery at five years, while the ESCAPE trial found comparable rates with surgery or physiotherapy. Preserving meniscus, repairing where possible and avoiding unnecessary removal, is the current principle.

How long does recovery take after keyhole surgery for a meniscal tear?

After a simple trim, you go home the same day, walk with crutches for comfort for a few days, and most people are back to usual activity and sport by six to eight weeks, with desk work within about a week and manual work in two to six weeks. After a repair, expect crutches for two to four weeks, no deep squatting for three months and a return to sport at four to six months, because the repair needs time to heal.

Sources

Abram SGF, Beard DJ, Price AJ, BASK Meniscal Working Group. Arthroscopic meniscal surgery: a national society treatment guideline and consensus statement. Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:652-9.

British Association for Surgery of the Knee, statement on arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscal tears (April 2026). https://bask.ac.uk

Sihvonen R et al. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus sham surgery for a degenerative meniscal tear. N Engl J Med 2013;369:2515-24; five year follow up, Br J Sports Med 2020;54:1332-9.

Noorduyn JCA et al. Effect of physical therapy versus arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in people with degenerative meniscal tears: five year follow up of the ESCAPE trial. JAMA Netw Open 2022.

Englund M et al. Incidental meniscal findings on knee MRI in middle aged and elderly persons. N Engl J Med 2008;359:1108-15.

Rhind J et al. The locked knee. Br J Hosp Med 2024.

NHS.uk, Meniscus tear (reviewed September 2026). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meniscus-tear/

O'Connor D et al. Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, CD014328.

Liverpool University Hospitals, Meniscal cartilage surgery patient leaflet (2021); East Kent Hospitals, Meniscal repair aftercare advice.

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