I just got my MRI report and it shows a complex tear in the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus, a horizontal tear in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, and a partial ACL tear. There's also a grade 1 injury of the patellar tendon with medial subluxation of the patella, a medial patellar plica tear, and mild synovial effusion. How serious is this? Can I manage with therapy or do I need surgery?

Dr Kamran Mohammed

General Practitioner

• MBBS
• FIDM
• 5+ Yrs

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The MRI results indicate a significant knee injury requiring careful consideration of treatment options. The complex tear of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus, the horizontal tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, and the partial ACL tear all suggest a moderate to severe injury. While some meniscus tears and minor ACL injuries can be managed with physical therapy, the complexity of your injury, especially with the medial subluxation of the patella and plica tear, suggests that surgery may be a more likely path to full recovery and long-term knee health.

Answered 3 days ago