[Axial malalignment of the leg and meniscus damage as an occupational disease]

Only a few people who perform activities that involve straining the meniscus actually suffer from meniscus lesions. Strain due to occupational activities does not itself lead to meniscus degeneration. However, meniscus-straining exercises activate the individual tissue inferiority, leading to what is considered an occupational disease. The tissue anomaly is the real cause. To date, only the primary chronic meniscus lesion has been recognized as an occupational disease. According to a verdict of the 8th Senate of the Federal Social Court dated 7 June 1988 (reference: 8/5 a RKnU 4/87), secondary meniscus lesions as a consequence of knee-joint arthrosis are now also recognized as occupational diseases. This contradicts the argument that axial malalignment of the leg is the cause of knee-joint arthrosis and arthrosis the cause of meniscus lesions, as well as the opinion that occupational activities can be disregarded when assessing the aetiology of meniscus lesions.