Discoid Meniscus

Abnormality of the Lateral Meniscus of the Knee Joint

A discoid lateral meniscus is an abnormally shaped meniscus within the knee joint. The meniscus is a C-shaped wedge of cartilage that helps support and cushion the knee joint. In each knee there are two menisci, one on the inside (medial) and one on the outside (lateral) of the knee joint. In some people, the lateral meniscus is shaped more like a solid disc rather than the normal C-shape.

Man holding his Knee in pain
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Most people with a discoid meniscus never know they have an abnormality. Most people live normal, active lives with a discoid meniscus—even high performance athletes. Therefore, if your healthcare provider finds that you have a discoid meniscus, but it is not causing any problem, it should be left alone. For example, sometimes during a knee arthroscopy a discoid meniscus is seen when a different problem is being treated—these should be simply left alone, not treated surgically.

The two most common reasons people find they have a discoid meniscus are that they have an MRI that shows the abnormality, or they are having an arthroscopic knee surgery and are found at that time to have the discoid meniscus. Again, in both of these scenarios, the discoid lateral meniscus is best left alone.

Symptoms of a Problematic Discoid Meniscus

In some people, the discoid meniscus can cause problems, usually a popping sensation with pain over the outside part of the knee joint. This is why some people use the phrase 'popping knee syndrome' when talking about a discoid meniscus. Signs of a discoid meniscus can include:

  • Popping sensations of the knee
  • Knee swelling
  • Pain along the outer side of the knee
  • Pain with squatting/kneeling

Diagnosis of the discoid meniscus is typically made when looking at an MRI of the knee. The normal meniscus contours are absent, and more meniscus tissue than normal is seen on the MRI. If there is a tear in the discoid meniscus, that is typically seen on the MRI as well. 

Treatment of a Discoid Meniscus

If patients are found to have a discoid meniscus, but it is not causing symptoms, no treatment should be performed.

In patients with a painful discoid meniscus, simple treatments consisting of knee exercises and stretching can be performed. Anti-inflammatory medications or a cortisone shot may be considered, but most people with a symptomatic discoid meniscus will ultimately choose to have arthroscopic surgery. This procedure is performed by inserting a small camera into the joint through one small incision and using instruments that can cut, bite, and shave away the abnormal or torn meniscal tissue.

If the discoid meniscus is torn, there are several approaches to managing this arthroscopically. Historically, the entire meniscus was removed at the time of arthroscopic surgery. However, removing the entire meniscus had the consequence of leading to increased chances of the development of arthritis in the knee joint because of the removal of meniscus cartilage. This surgical procedure is called a complete meniscectomy. More commonly, the discoid meniscus can be surgically shaped into a normal appearing meniscus, a procedure called saucerization of the meniscus. 

In addition to management of the torn portion of the meniscus, many people with a discoid meniscus have symptoms such as popping as a result of instability of the meniscus cartilage. Therefore, at the time of surgical management when a saucerization of the meniscus is performed, a repair of the unstable remnant of meniscus may also be performed in order to prevent recurrent popping sensations in the knee. In the end, some of the meniscus may be removed and some may be repaired.

After Meniscus Surgery

Recovery from surgical treatment of a discoid meniscus is about 6 weeks to regain full strength and mobility of the joint. Most patients require no immobilization and limited restrictions of weight-bearing. It is common for individuals who have surgery to perform physical therapy and avoid impact exercise activities while recovering from the surgical procedure. 

While there is little evidence to show that patients with a discoid meniscus have any higher chance of developing knee arthritis later in life, there is evidence that patients who tear their meniscus can have longer term problems. Any patient who sustains a meniscus tear should take steps to help prevent any progression of arthritis in their knee joints.

3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Kocher MS, Logan CA, Kramer DE. Discoid Lateral Meniscus in Children: Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2017;25(11):736-743. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-15-00491

  2. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Discoid Meniscus.

  3. Doral MN, Bilge O, Huri G, Turhan E, Verdonk R. Modern treatment of meniscal tears. EFORT Open Rev. 2018;3(5):260-268. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.3.170067 

Cluett

By Jonathan Cluett, MD
Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams.