The chief compliants of the patients are locking sensation accompanied with severe pain on deep fexion. The inability to squat or sit cross-legged can also indicate a meniscal tear.
Cases with osteo-arthritis have a typical degenerative meniscal tear which are grossly symptomatic in a subset of patients. People who have mechanical symptoms of locking and severe pain benefot from a surgical removal of the menicus. Other patients with a diffuse pain all round the day are not benefited wth surgical procedure.
The tears should be dealt with conservatively only when degenerative or asymptomatic. Symptomatic tears causing locking should be surgically excised/repaired.