Discoid meniscus

A discoid meniscus is a developmental anomaly - it just happens - when a person is born with a meniscus more like a flat round disc than a C-shaped wedge.

There may be no symptoms, and cause a surgeon some confusion when he peers into the joint and sees this unusual structure. Quite often, though, discoid menisci may be symptomatic, the symptoms commonly beginning in childhood -

• clicking or 'clunking' of the knee in certain positions
• giving way
• pain

They can tear like any other meniscus and cause locking and joint line pain.

Surgery for a symptomatic discoid meniscus usually involves trimming it to approximately the shape of a normal meniscus.