There is often confusion about whether or not there is a difference between a meniscus tear and a cartilage tear. Many patients will use these words interchangeably, and many doctors may describe an injury using one of these terms. So what do these words mean, and what is the difference between a meniscus tear and a cartilage tear exactly?
The meniscus is a different type of cartilage that forms a shock-absorber between the bones. The meniscus is not attached to the bone like the articular cartilage, but rather sits between the bone ends to cushion the joint.
Most often, a "tear" refers to an injury to the meniscus cartilage, not the articular cartilage. Therefore, it is a meniscus tear that occurs when someone is referring to a cartilage tear of the knee.
