A tear of a meniscus is a rupturing of one or more of the fibrocartilage strips in the knee called menisci. When doctors and patients refer to "torn cartilage" in the knee, they actually may be referring to an injury to a meniscus at the top of one of the tibiae. Menisci can be torn during innocuous activities such as walking or squatting. They can also be torn by traumatic force encountered in sports or other forms of physical exertion. The traumatic action is most often a twisting movement at the knee while the leg is bent. In older adults, the meniscus can be damaged following prolonged wear and tear. Especially acute injuries (typically in younger, more active patients) can lead to displaced tears which can cause mechanical symptoms such as clicking, catching, or locking during motion of the joint. The joint will be in pain when in use, but when there is no load, the pain goes away. A tear of the medial meniscus can occur as part of the unhappy triad, together with a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. Signs and symptoms
The common signs and symptoms of a torn meniscus are knee pain, particularly along the joint line, and swelling. These are worse when the knee bears more weight (for example, when running). Another typical complaint is joint locking, when the affected person is unable to straighten the leg fully. This can be accompanied by a clicking feeling.
Diagnosis
Syringomas can often be diagnosed clinically based on presentation, distribution patterns over the body, lack of associated symptoms, and family history. A definitive diagnosis requires a skin biopsy to allow the tissue to be examined under a microscope. Histologically, syringomas have a characteristic comma-shaped ("tadpole") tail of dilated, cystic eccrine ducts. Treatment
The goal of treatment is to improve the appearance of lesions, since they are otherwise not serious and typically do not cause symptoms. Many treatment methods have been attempted, but complete removal is uncommon. No single treatment method has been shown to work consistently. Both medical and surgical treatments have been studied, each with variable success. Common destructive treatment methods include carbon dioxide lasers, dermabrasion, surgical excision, electrocoagulation, and chemical peels. Many of these methods are very time-consuming and require multiple treatment sessions. Carbon dioxide lasers are the most commonly practiced method; they can cause thermal damage, though, leading to scarring in the area. Medical therapies include topical atropine, topical retinoids, and oral tranilast. The most common adverse effects include redness, skin discoloration, and pain. Other side effects include blistering and scarring. See also
Acrospiroma
List of cutaneous conditions
List of cutaneous neoplasms associated with systemic syndromes

References
External links
eMedicine entry on syringomas
DermNet NZ