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Many people who live in Sarasota enjoy riding bicycles. Whether they ride their bikes to work or for the purpose of getting exercise, bicyclists are often in danger of bicycle accident injuries due to sharing the road with faster and heavier motor vehicles.
While bicyclists can suffer from a number of injuries in the event of a crash, a frequent type of injury that occurs in bicycle accidents is a meniscus tear. Interestingly, there are three different ways the meniscus can tear and cause cartilage and knee damage, including:
- Longitudinal tear – This is a tear that occurs along the length of the meniscus.
- Radial tear – This tear begins tearing at the outer edge of the cartilage and works its way inwards.
- Bucket handle tear – This is a tear that leaves a flap of cartilage loose after it detaches from the tibia.
The type of meniscus injury will determine the type of treatment that is needed. After cartilage damage, there are several different types of possible treatments, including:
- Ice
- Rest and elevation
- Knee brace
- Physical therapy
- Knee surgery
If the meniscus tear is small, the swelling and pain will usually subside after ice, rest, and elevation. Sometimes a knee brace along with physical therapy may be enough to help provide stability and restore knee range. However, if the tear is large and the knee is unstable, locks up, or gives out, then knee surgery is often carried out arthroscopically. Surgery is often followed by months of physical therapy to restore normal knee movement.
If you have suffered a meniscus tear in a bicycle accident, you should seek medical treatment. We also encourage you to order a free copy of our book, What You Need to Know After a Florida Auto, Truck, or Bike Accident.
