A torn meniscus is a very common, painful and debilitating injury that occurs quite commonly from auto accidents.

Since so many people suffer from torn menisci, I thought it may help to provide some information about torn menisci and how serious such an injury can be. I therefore provide the following courtesy of The University of Virginia:

The ends of the three bones in the knee – the femur, tibia, and patella – are covered with cartilage (a smooth material that covers bone ends of a joint to cushion the bone and allow the joint to move easily without pain) that acts as a shock absorber. Between the bones of the knees are two crescent-shaped discs of connective tissue, called menisci, which also act as shock absorbers to cushion the lower part of the leg from the weight of the rest of the body.

Meniscus tears can occur during a rotating movement while bearing weight, such as when twisting the upper leg while the foot stays in one place during sports and other activities. Tears can be minor, with the meniscus staying connected to the knee, or major, with the meniscus barely attached to the knee by a cartilage thread.