Torn Meniscus Is Significant Injury in PA Workers’ Comp

Knee injuries are common in Pennsylvania workers’ compensation.  Over the years, we have had many clients with a torn meniscus in his or her knee.  This is generally regarded as a minor injury by the insurance industry, a perception we have never understood.

Recently, Minnesota Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy injured his knee.  Further testing revealed a torn meniscus.  Note that the referenced article describes the meniscus as a “tendon,” though it is not.  The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee.  Essentially, the meniscus functions as a cushion between the “tibia” (shin bone) and the “femur” (thigh bone).

Surgery is often required to address a meniscus tear, though it is not usually the first avenue to try (that said, Mr. McCarthy had the surgery immediately and will miss the entire 2024 season while recovering).  Typically, in our experience, an injured worker will receive conservative treatment initially, in an effort to avoid surgery.  If surgery is eventually required, this obviously extends the total period the injured worker may be out of work.

If the meniscus can just be trimmed in a surgical procedure, the recovery can be fairly quick.  This is known as a “meniscectomy,” or “meniscal debridement.”  But, this comes at a cost – not having enough meniscus left in the knee can predispose a patient to a high risk of arthritis taking place in the knee.  Obviously, this is a major consideration for the long-term health of the injured worker.

The alternative is a full meniscal repair, which is apparently the surgery performed on Mr. McCarthy.  This involves a total meniscectomy (removing the entire meniscus), and then a “new” meniscus (from a cadaver tissue bank) is placed in the knee.  The recovery from this procedure is much more involved.  There is a period of non-weightbearing, followed by a course of physical therapy.  This recovery can take around nine months, though, of course, things vary from patient to patient.  Physically stressing the knee during this time would be prohibited, possibly leading to an extended period of disability.  This would be consistent with Mr. McCarthy missing the entire 2024 season.

It is important for us all (including insurance carriers and Workers’ Compensation Judges) to remember that even a young, physically fit, professional athlete can be rendered disabled for a long period of time by a torn meniscus.  Most (if not all) workers performing physical duties are far less conditioned than Mr. McCarthy, and would need even longer to get back to significant physical capabilities.  It is not an injury which automatically resolves within a few months.