LA Lakers center Andrew Bynum played for 28 minutes in Game 1 of the NBA Finals last night, despite an ongoing knee injury. Bynum has been playing with torn cartridge in his right knee for more than a month. According to the LA Times, “Bynum had 2 1/2 ounces of fluid drained from his knee Monday, but the fluid returned about 12 hours later, causing his knee to swell up again.”

In 2008, Bynum has missed the NBA Finals because of a left knee injury. He wasn’t going to let that happen again. “It’s motivating for me,” Bynum said about playing through his injury. “I’m just going to keep going out there and playing as hard as I can, and whatever happens, happens.”

The knee joint is the largest joint in the body, consisting of 4 bones and an extensive network of ligaments and muscles.

The knee is made up of four main bones- the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), fibula (outer shin bone) and patella (kneecap). The main movements of the knee joint occur between the femur, patella and tibia.

Each are covered in cartilage which is an extremely hard, smooth substance designed to decrease the friction as movement occurs between the bones. The patella lies in an indentation at the lower end of the femur known as the intercondylar groove. At the outer surface of the tibia lies the fibula, a long thin bone that travels right down to the ankle joint.

Each knee joint has two crescent-shaped cartilage menisci. These lie on the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) edges of the upper surface of the tibia bone. They are essential components, acting as shock absorbers for the knee as well as allowing for correct weight distribution between the tibia and the femur.

Meniscal tears are most commonly caused by twisting or over-flexing the joint and frequently happen during sports. Players may squat and twist the knee, causing a tear. Direct contact, like a tackle, may be involved.

The most common symptoms of meniscal tear are:

• Pain
• Clicking or popping (especially at the time of the injury)
• Stiffness and swelling
• Catching or locking of the knee
• The sensation of the knee “giving way”
• Decreased range of motion at the knee

Treatment depends on the severity of the tear. Small tears may only need “RICE” treatment (rest, ice, compression, elevation) to allow the cartilage to heal on its own. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or ibuprofen may be added for pain relief. More serious tears usually require surgical treatment- usually done arthroscopically, where the torn cartilage is trimmed or repaired.

For more information:

Resounding Health(tm) Torn Knee Cartilage