What is a discoid meniscus?

The meniscus is the cartilage in the knee that cushions the joint between the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone). A discoid meniscus is a congential anomaly where the meniscus is abnormally shaped. Instead of a crescent moon shaped cartilage pad in the knee joint, it resembles a half moon or a disc, like its name, and is thicker than normal.

There are three types of discoid meniscus:

• Incomplete: the meniscus is slightly wider and thicker than normal
• Complete: the meniscus covers the entire tibia
• Hypermobile Wrisberg: the shape of meniscus is normal, but the ligament that attaches it to the back of the knee is missing, leaving the mensicus too mobile or unstable

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Reviewed by: Craig J Spurdle, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM