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A discoid meniscus is a meniscus that formed in an unusual, thicker, disc-like shape instead of the normal crescent. It almost always affects the outer (lateral) meniscus. Because of its shape and sometimes weaker attachments, a discoid meniscus is more prone to tearing and can cause symptoms in children and young adults. Dr. Andrew Dold, a board-certified, fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon in Frisco, Texas, treats discoid meniscus with arthroscopic reshaping (saucerization) and repair when needed.

On this page:What is it · Symptoms · Diagnosis · Treatment · Outcomes · FAQs · Research
At a glance

  • A congenital variation, usually of the lateral meniscus
  • Often found in children and teenagers with knee popping, pain or locking
  • A discoid meniscus without symptoms usually needs no treatment
  • Symptomatic discoid menisci are reshaped arthroscopically (saucerization), with repair of any unstable or torn rim

What is a discoid meniscus?

The menisci are C-shaped cartilage cushions between the thighbone and shinbone (see meniscus tears). A discoid meniscus is a congenital variation, usually of the lateral meniscus, that covers more of the joint surface than normal.1 It has been classified into complete, incomplete and Wrisberg-ligament types; the Wrisberg type lacks its normal back attachment and can be unstable.1

Symptoms

  • Popping or snapping on the outer side of the knee (sometimes called “snapping knee”)
  • Pain, swelling or locking
  • Difficulty fully straightening the knee
  • Sometimes no symptoms at all, in which case it may be found by chance on MRI

Diagnosis

Dr. Dold examines the knee and reviews X-rays and an MRI, which shows the shape of the meniscus, whether it is torn and whether its rim is stable.

Treatment

A discoid meniscus that is not causing symptoms is usually observed; complete and incomplete types typically need treatment only when a tear occurs.1 For a symptomatic discoid meniscus, Dr. Dold performs an arthroscopic saucerization, reshaping the meniscus into a more normal crescent while preserving as much healthy meniscus as possible, and repairs any torn or unstable rim to the capsule. Preserving the meniscus protects the cartilage over the long term. See meniscus repair.

Outcomes

In a systematic review of 4,503 patients, function scores improved substantially after surgery for discoid lateral meniscus, with average Lysholm scores rising from about 58 to 89.2 In children, saucerization alone and saucerization with repair both improved function; reoperation rates were about 7% to 9%, and the most common long-term complications were arthritis and osteochondritis dissecans.3 Long-term follow-up is important.

What the research shows

  • Common, and often harmless: a discoid meniscus is the most common congenital variation of the meniscus. Many never cause symptoms, and an asymptomatic discoid meniscus found by chance does not need treatment.
  • Symptoms and diagnosis: pain and popping are the most common complaints, along with clicking, locking, giving way or difficulty fully straightening the knee. An exam and MRI reliably make the diagnosis and show tears or instability.
  • Why it tears: the tissue of a discoid meniscus is thicker and less organized than a normal meniscus, which makes it more prone to tearing.
  • Surgery today preserves the meniscus: older operations removed the whole meniscus, which relieved symptoms but led to poorer mid-term results and arthritis. Current treatment is arthroscopic “saucerization,” trimming the meniscus to a more normal shape, plus repair of any unstable or torn rim. A meta-analysis found better results with partial than total removal.
  • Recovery: return to sport is typically possible after about 4 months or more when a repair is needed. Long-term follow-up is recommended because the outer knee can develop wear over time.

Why see Dr. Dold

  • Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, with subspecialty certification in Sports Medicine
  • Sports medicine and arthroscopy fellowship at NYU Langone / Hospital for Joint Diseases; orthopedic residency at the University of Toronto
  • Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS), the American Orthopaedic Association (FAOA) and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC)
  • Published research on knee ligament and meniscus surgery, including The Posteromedial Corner of the Knee (JAAOS, 2017) and transtibial meniscal root repair (KSSTA, 2017)
  • Team physician and surgical consultant to Rugby Canada; has cared for professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, PGA Tour and Major League Rugby
  • D Magazine Best Doctors (Collin County), 2019–2026 · Rated 4.9 on Google

Frequently asked questions

Does a discoid meniscus need surgery?

Only if it causes symptoms such as pain, locking or a tear. A discoid meniscus found by chance without symptoms is usually observed.1

What is saucerization?

An arthroscopic procedure that reshapes the thick discoid meniscus into a more normal crescent shape while preserving as much meniscus as possible. Any unstable rim is repaired.

Can a child return to sports after discoid meniscus surgery?

Most children improve substantially after surgery.2,3 Return to sport depends on whether the meniscus was repaired; Dr. Dold will give you a specific plan.

Can a discoid meniscus come back or cause problems later?

Some patients need further surgery, and arthritis and OCD have been reported over the long term,3 so regular follow-up is recommended.

Research cited on this page

  1. Woods GW, Whelan JM. Discoid meniscus. Clin Sports Med. 1990;9(3):695-706. PubMed
  2. Vivekanantha P, Thomas R, Kaplan G, et al. Surgical Management of the Discoid Lateral Meniscus: a Systematic Review of Outcomes. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2025;18(11):513-535. PubMed
  3. Hartman H, Lessiohadi N, Saharan S, et al. Outcomes of Saucerization With or Without Repair for Symptomatic Discoid Lateral Meniscus in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy. 2026;42(9):1882-1899. PubMed
  4. Niu EL, Lee RJ, Joughin E, et al. Discoid Meniscus. Clin Sports Med. 2022;41(4):729-747. PubMed
    Review: discoid meniscus is the most common congenital variant of the meniscus, and treatment is tailored to its specific pathology.
  5. Kushare I, Klingele K, Samora W. Discoid Meniscus: Diagnosis and Management. Orthop Clin North Am. 2015;46(4):533-40. PubMed
    Review: physical examination combined with MRI reliably diagnoses discoid meniscus; presentations range from no symptoms to snapping, locking and pain.
  6. Mutlu S, Mutlu H, Mutlu B, et al. Symptoms of discoid lateral menisci. J Orthop. 2014;11(4):180-2. PubMed
    Study: pain and popping were the most common symptoms, followed by stiffness, giving way and difficulty straightening the knee.
  7. Restrepo R, Weisberg MD, Pevsner R, et al. Discoid Meniscus in the Pediatric Population:: Emphasis on MR Imaging Signs of Instability. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2019;27(2):323-339. PubMed
    Imaging review: MRI identifies discoid shape, tears and instability, which affect surgical planning.
  8. Kim JG, Han SW, Lee DH. Diagnosis and Treatment of Discoid Meniscus. Knee Surg Relat Res. 2016;28(4):255-262. PubMed
    Review: asymptomatic discoid menisci do not need treatment; surgery is needed for symptoms or tears.
  9. Kocher MS, Logan CA, Kramer DE. Discoid Lateral Meniscus in Children: Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2017;25(11):736-743. PubMed
    Review: complete meniscectomy relieved symptoms but led to poor mid-term results; saucerization with repair of instability is preferred.
  10. Dai WL, Zhang H, Zhou AG, et al. Discoid Lateral Meniscus. J Knee Surg. 2017;30(9):854-862. PubMed
    Meta-analysis: 85.5% good or excellent results; partial meniscectomy had higher good or excellent rates than total meniscectomy.
  11. Kim JH, Ahn JH, Kim JH, et al. Discoid lateral meniscus: importance, diagnosis, and treatment. J Exp Orthop. 2020;7(1):81. PubMed
    Review: partial meniscectomy (saucerization) is the treatment of choice, with repair of peripheral detachment to stabilize the meniscus.
  12. Geffroy L. Meniscal pathology in children and adolescents. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2021;107(1S):102775. PubMed
    Review: treatment of symptomatic discoid meniscus usually involves minimal central reshaping and suture of any tear; repair results in children are very satisfactory.
  13. Habata T, Uematsu K, Kasanami R, et al. Long-term clinical and radiographic follow-up of total resection for discoid lateral meniscus. Arthroscopy. 2006;22(12):1339-43. PubMed
    Long-term study: results were satisfactory with mild arthritic changes in patients under 40, but arthritis should be monitored.
  14. Tapasvi S, Shekhar A, Eriksson K. Discoid lateral meniscus: current concepts. J ISAKOS. 2021;6(1):14-21. PubMed
    Review: return to sports is possible after more than 4 months following repair; function and arthritis risk depend on how much meniscus is preserved.
  15. Campbell AL, Pace JL, Mandelbaum BR. Discoid Lateral Meniscus. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2023;16(4):154-161. PubMed
    Review: a newer classification and surgical techniques for discoid lateral meniscus.
  16. Popper HR, Fliegel BE, Elliott DM, et al. Surgical Management of Traumatic Meniscus Injuries. Pathophysiology. 2023;30(4):618-629. PubMed
    Review: repairs in the outer, well-vascularized zone heal more reliably; rehabilitation protocols vary.
  17. Dai WL, Zhang H, Lin ZM, et al. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in arthroscopic repair for discoid lateral meniscus tears. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019;20(1):113. PubMed
    Study: adding PRP to arthroscopic repair of discoid meniscus tears gave similar mid-term results to repair alone.
  18. Chambers HG, Chambers RC. The Natural History of Meniscus Tears. J Pediatr Orthop. 2019;39(Issue 6, Supplement 1 Suppl 1):S53-S55. PubMed
    Review: untreated meniscal tears and discoid meniscus appear to carry higher rates of cartilage injury and arthritis.
  19. Turati M, Anghilieri FM, Accadbled F, et al. Discoid meniscus in human fetuses: A systematic review. Knee. 2021;30:205-213. PubMed
    Systematic review: the lateral meniscus may be prone to a discoid shape from fetal development.
  20. Papadopoulos A, Kirkos JM, Kapetanos GA. Histomorphologic study of discoid meniscus. Arthroscopy. 2009;25(3):262-8. PubMed
    Histology study: discoid menisci show disorganized collagen, making them more prone to tearing.
  21. Kocher MS, Klingele K, Rassman SO. Meniscal disorders: normal, discoid, and cysts. Orthop Clin North Am. 2003;34(3):329-40. PubMed
    Review: in children, preserving the meniscus is emphasized given healing potential and young age.
Ready to get it checked? Request an appointment online or call 469-850-0680. Our staff will contact you by phone and text within an hour of your request (during business hours, Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm). Walk-in visits are welcome Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30–10:30 am at 6700 Dallas Parkway, Suite 100, Frisco, TX 75034. We see patients from Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Prosper, Little Elm, The Colony, Allen, Dallas and across North Texas. Same-day appointments available. Dr. Dold accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Tricare. Please call 469-850-0680 to confirm your coverage.

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Medically reviewed by Andrew P. Dold, MD, FAOA, FAAOS, FACS, FRCSC. Last reviewed October 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice. Individual results vary.