Torn Meniscus After a Slip and Fall

If You Suffer a Torn Meniscus After a Slip and Fall in Indiana, Call Our Lawyer for Help

The meniscus is cartilage in the knee that acts like a shock absorber. It is essential for good knee health. Unfortunately, it is one of the most common areas to be damaged in a fall.

Slip and fall incidents often result in serious injury. There are many different injuries that can result from a slip and fall incident and a torn meniscus is one of the more painful injuries that can take some significant time to heal. Some torn meniscus injuries can be quite severe, requiring surgery, prolonged recovery, and a great deal of pain and suffering.

This type of injury also usually results in a significant loss of income if a victim is forced to remain out of work for any significant period of time due to surgery or physical therapy—particularly for victims who have physically demanding jobs. Our experienced slip and fall lawyers in Indiana know that most falls should never happen if land owners and businesses properly maintained their premises, meaning that these injuries are entirely preventable.

What is a Torn Meniscus Injury?

The meniscus is cartilage in the knee. It acts as a cushion in the knee like a shock absorber and helps stabilize the knee. The meniscus is strong but can be ripped or torn when there is downwards or upwards pressure on it, and the knee is twisted, popped, or forced in another direction. There are two c-shaped menisci in the knee. When one or both of the menisci tear, this is considered a torn meniscus. Most torn meniscus injuries need surgery to completely repair it, although some may not need surgery to stabilize the knee—but that injury will not heal on its own.

What Causes a Torn Meniscus Injury?

According to the Mayo Clinic, a torn meniscus injury is caused by any type of twisting and rotating of the knee. This can occur due to an incident such as a slip and fall injury, a sports injury, or degenerative changes in older adults. Falls on stairs or in a hole, uneven flooring, or other defect can cause a torn meniscus.

How Does a Torn Meniscus Injury Occur Due to a Slip and Fall Incident?

A torn meniscus due to a slip and fall or trip and fall injury can occur in the following ways:

• Falling down a flight of stairs
• Wet grass
• Spilled product
• Snow and ice
• Debris or garbage on the floor
• Unlevel flooring
• Bunched up carpets
• A hole in the ground, and
• Any other defect on the ground that our experienced slip and fall lawyers in Indiana could recover compensation for you in a personal injury case.

Contact Shaw Law to schedule a FREE consultation with our experienced team today.

What are the Symptoms a Torn Meniscus?

There are certain symptoms that can indicate a torn meniscus has occurred. These signs and symptoms include the following:

• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Pain, particularly when trying to rotate or twist the knee
• A popping sensation
• Feeling that your knee is giving out
• Feeling that your knee is locked when trying to move it
• Difficulty with fully straightening the knee
• Limping

How is a Torn Meniscus Diagnosed?

A torn meniscus is diagnosed with assessment as well as imaging. Imaging to diagnose a suspected torn meniscus includes x-ray and MRI.

Treatment For Torn Meniscus Injury

Treatment for a torn meniscus often depends on the degree of the tear. Minor tears may begin with conservative treatment such as ice, over-the-counter pain medications and rest, while more significant tears often require physical therapy or surgery.

Arthroscopy is typically the surgery of choice for a meniscal tear. During an arthroscopy, an arthroscope (small optic tube) is inserted through an incision in the joint. The doctor is able to see on a screen the torn meniscus and is able to trim out the torn portion or repair the torn portion of the meniscus.

Complications of a Torn Meniscus Injury

There are certain complications that can occur after a torn meniscus injury. If surgery is required, risk for infection, bleeding, pain and blood clots can occur. People with a torn meniscus injury are also more at risk for osteoarthritis. Disability is also a very real risk with a torn meniscus injury. A victim who suffers any of these complications from a torn meniscus after a slip and fall may be entitled to compensation for them.

Did You Suffer a Torn Meniscus After a Slip and Fall in Indiana? You May Be Entitled to Compensation

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in one of these preventable falls, know that Shaw Law can help you recover compensation for lost wages, medical bills, conscious pain and suffering, and other damages.

Call our experienced slip and fall lawyers in Indiana at (260) 777-7777 who have helped other victims of a torn meniscus injury after a slip and fall recover the compensation that they are entitled to under the law.