Epidemiology

Meniscal tears are the most common soft tissue injury to the knee joint and are responsible for the majority of knee arthroscopy surgeries worldwide.[4][5][6][7]​​​​​​​ Although a relatively large number of knee arthroscopies are still performed for meniscal tear, rates have generally been declining. This is likely due to growing evidence that surgical intervention may not always provide additional benefit over non-surgical intervention.[5][6][7]​​​​​​​ 

In one US study, the prevalence of degenerative meniscal tears ranged from 19% in women aged 50 to 59 years, to over 50% in men aged 70 to 90 years.[8] However, despite the high prevalence, 61% of people with meniscal tears identified on magnetic resonance imaging scans did not report any pain or stiffness.[8] 

A study in Switzerland documented 17,397 patients with 19,530 sports injuries over a 10-year period: 37% of the patients had injuries related to the knee joint (7769 injuries [39.8%]), 10.8% of patients had medial meniscus lesion, and 3.7% had lateral meniscus lesion. The medial meniscus injury was associated with tennis and jogging, and lateral meniscus injury with gymnastics and dancing.[9]

In a 10-year retrospective analysis of all knee and ankle injuries recorded on Macquarie Island, Australia, meniscal tears contributed to 11% of the recorded injuries.[10] Observational data from the UK suggest a significantly higher incidence of meniscal tears in patients undergoing reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament more than 12 months after the injury (71.2%) compared with those who underwent surgery within 12 months of injury (41.7%).[11]

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