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Meniscus Tear Compensation Claims

TSR Injury Law is a leading personal injury law firm with extensive experience with meniscus tear injuries. We recently settled a case with multiple injuries, including a knee injury, for 1.7 million dollars.

The knee is the largest joint in the body and critical to good mobility. If you have sustained a meniscus tear in an accident that was not your fault, you need legal representation to prove future damages and maximize your compensation. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form. Call today. We want to help.

About the Knee Joint and Meniscus

The knee is comprised of 3 bones: the femur, tibia, and patella. The meniscus are rubbery, wedge-shaped cushions between the femur and tibia. They are anchored to the tibia with coronary ligaments. The meniscus help to distribute weight across the knee joint and improve the stability of the joint. Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries.

The most central part of the meniscus is avascular, no direct blood supply. Without oxygen and nutrients supplied by the blood, healing cannot take place. If the tear is in this area, healing will tend to be incomplete. It will most likely require surgery to trim the torn portion of meniscus.

One of the most common causes of a meniscus tear is due to traumatic injury. In a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or slip and fall accident a meniscus tear occurs when the knee joint is bent and then twisted. It is very common for a meniscus tear to occur along with an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medial collateral ligament (MCL).

Meniscus Tear Symptoms

Pain and swelling are the primary symptoms of a meniscus tear. Other common complaints are:

  • knee joint locking
  • tenderness when pressing on the meniscus
  • popping or clicking within the knee
  • limited motion due to the torn cartilage interfering with the joint mechanism of the knee

Diagnosing and Treatment of Meniscus Tears

X-rays and MRIs are the most frequently used tests in diagnosing meniscus tears. An x-ray does not show the meniscus, but can be used to determine if there is evidence of damage to the knee joint. The MRI is the most beneficial test because it can create better images of the soft tissues. It can actually show the meniscus, including any tears or damage.

Treatment of meniscal tears depends on several factors, because not all meniscus tears require surgery. The type of tear you have, your age, activity level, and any related injuries will factor into the doctor’s recommendation for your treatment plan.

Arthroscopic surgery may be necessary. Knee arthroscopy is a very commonly performed surgery. The surgery involves cutting 3 small slits; one for a miniature camera, the other two for miniature surgical instruments. The meniscal tear will either be sutured, trimmed, or removed. A meniscal transplant is another possibility.

Meniscus Tear Risks and Recovery

There are risks with every surgery. The greatest risks with knee arthroscopy are:

  • nerve damage
  • infection
  • bleeding
  • reaction to anesthetic

Following surgery, the doctor may put your knee in a cast or brace to limit movement. Once the knee is healed, rehabilitation exercises will be prescribed. Regular exercise is necessary to restore the knee’s range of motion and strength.

The LASIK Procedure

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A mechanical blade is used to cut a flap in the cornea, leaving a hinge on one side of the cornea. The flap is folded back revealing the midsection of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the corneal cells and the flap is replaced.

Risks and Limitations

Even with the most skilled surgeons you can experience complications and serious consequences, including:

  • Malfunction of a device or other error, such as cutting a flap of cornea all the way through instead of making a hinge during LASIK surgery, may lead to discontinuation of the procedure or irreversible damage to the eye.
  • Some complications after surgery are:
    • migration of the flap
    • inflammation or infection
    • may not work and may require another procedure
    • intensive treatment with drops
    • may still need reading glasses
    • visual symptoms (glare, halos, starbursts, etc.)
    • unable to drive at night
    • contrast sensitivity (unable to see in dim light)
    • temporary loss of vision
    • irreversible blindness

According to the FDA, 700,000 LASIK surgeries are performed in the United States each year. 35,000 of the patients are dissatisfied with the outcome and 7,000 people suffer severe complications — including extremely uncomfortable eye dryness, intense eye pain, or varying degrees of blindness. Some patients have even become depressed from the constant pain and committed suicide. Two years after surgery one patient described the pain as “debilitating and unremitting”.

Injured? Need Legal Advice?

Knowing who to contact after a serious injury can be a very difficult process for injury victims. At TSR Injury Law, our Minneapolis medical malpractice attorneys are legal professionals with extensive experience with malpractice cases. We will answer your questions, deal with the doctors and insurance companies, handle all of the paperwork, and file your claim. To speak to a lawyer, call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form and a member from our legal team will be in contact with you shortly.

TSR Injury Law – Free Consultation. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

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