Chondromalacia patellae. Early results of a conservative operation.

The classical syndrome of chondromalacia patellae is encountered frequently in Service hospitals. The patients are mainly active young men and women. This reflects to some extent the age group of Service patients. Despite the large number of Service dependants and civilians now seen, the cross-section ofpatients is still younger than the average in most civilian hospitals. There is also a slight preponderance of males. The patients complain of pain related vaguely to the anterior aspect of the knee; it is felt mainly on exercise and particularly during knee bending movements, notably the use of stairs. They also complain of pain and stiffness after prolonged sitting, and occasionally of the knee giving way. The signs are crepitus on movement of the joint, retropatellar tenderness usually confined to the medial facet, and tenderness over the femoral condylar