One of the most common ways to determine a symptomatic meniscus tear is to have the patient perform a deep squat or flex their knee into maximal flexion. Pain in the back of the knee is a meniscus tear until proven otherwise. Other sources of pain can include a Baker’s cyst, cruciate ligament ganglion cyst, pigmented villonodular synovitis, lipoma arborescens, or other pathology.
About the Author: Robert LaPrade, MD
Robert LaPrade, MD, PhD has specialized skills and expertise in diagnosing and treating complicated knee injuries. He has treated athletes at all levels, including Olympic, professional and intercollegiate athletes, and has returned numerous athletes back to full participation after surgeries. Recognized globally for his outstanding and efficient surgical skills and dedication to sports medicine, he has received many research awards, including the OREF Clinic Research Award considered by many a Nobel Prize in orthopedics. Dr. LaPrade is one of the most published investigators in his field, and many of the surgeries that he has developed are now performed worldwide and recognized as the “gold standard” for the treatment of complex knee injuries.