Circumstances of Injury:

The injury occurred while I was serving in the military. At first, the doctors at my unit tried conservative treatment — meaning they avoided surgery and relied on medication, bandaging, physical therapy, and rest. Unfortunately, this approach didn’t bring the needed results, so I was transferred to a hospital for further care and surgery.

Diagnosis:

Osteoarthritis of the right knee (stage II), closed injury of the medial meniscus, and chronic pain syndrome.

Stage II osteoarthritis means the joint is already more severely worn down. The cartilage that should cushion the knee and allow smooth movement has become significantly thinner. As a result, the bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain and limited mobility.

The closed injury of the medial meniscus means that one of the main cartilages inside the right knee — the “shock absorber” between the bones — is damaged. This leads to pain, swelling, and sometimes the knee getting “stuck” or locking during movement.

Chronic pain syndrome means that the pain doesn’t go away on its own. It persists constantly, even during rest or with only minor activity.

Clinical Decision:

Arthroscopy of the knee joint with resection of the damaged part of the meniscus.

Arthroscopy is a modern, minimally invasive knee surgery performed through small punctures instead of a large incision. A tiny camera and surgical instruments are inserted into the joint, allowing the surgeon to see everything on a screen and operate with precision.

During the procedure, only the torn or severely damaged portion of the meniscus (the cartilage that cushions the knee) is removed, while the healthy tissue is preserved.