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Meniscus tears

Illustration copyright 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com

Where a meniscus tear occurs is one of the most important factors in healing. Tears at the outer edge (red zone) tend to heal well because there is a good blood supply. The inner area (white zone) lacks a good blood supply and therefore does not heal well.

The type of tear (above right) often determines whether a tear can be repaired.

Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD
- Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David Bardana, MD, FRCSC
- Orthopedic Surgery/Sports Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Kathie Hummel-Berry, PT, PhD
- Physical Therapy
Last Updated September 22, 2006

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: September 22, 2006
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