Patella infera can cause knee pain and lead to patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Treatment is usually unsatisfactory. We describe a case of severe patella infera after operative treatment for fracture of the patella. We used Ilizarov external fixation and gradual lengthening of the patellar tendon. The patellar height was restored and the patient's symptoms were much improved.

The relationship between joint mobility and chondromalacia patellae was reported in a prospective study. A total of 115 patients with chondromalacia patellae were compared with 110 healthy individuals without chondromalacia patellae, matched for age and sex, who served as a control group. The degree of joint mobility was scored on a scale of 0-9. The number of individuals with hypermobile joint...

The presence of nodular aggregates of woven bone situated on porotic trabeculae has been described in the patella in chondromalacia patellae (Darracott and Vernon-Roberts, 1971) and in the femoral head in osteoarthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis (Todd, Freeman, and Pirie, 1972). The distribution and microstructure of the nodular aggregates indicate that they may represent some form of new bone f...

Troublesome anterior knee pain is a common problem in active adolescents and young adults and the complex of symptoms is well known. From a clinical viewpoint it is convenient to consider the causes under the headings of ‘Distinct’ and ‘Obscure’ (Table I). The first group consists mainly of focal lesions which can be clinically and radiologically defined and for which local treatment can be app...

Although diagnostic criteria for chondromalacia patellae exist, the disease is often accompanied by physical signs which are limited or non-diagnostic. Thermographic examination was performed in 157 patients with clinical diagnosis of chondromalacia patellae in 86 patients after surgical treatment for chondromalacia, and in 308 controls. Thermography can help the clinicians in establishing the ...

BACKGROUND Arthroscopic patellar release (APR) is utilized for minimally invasive surgical treatment of patellar tendinopathy. Evidence regarding long-term success following the procedure is limited. Also, the influence of age and preoperative performance level, are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether APR translates into sustained pain relief over a long-te...

Because we communicate mainly through words, it is important that terms be understood in the same manner by all readers. Unfortunately, the study of the patellofemoral joint is complicated by the use of expressions that hold different meanings for different readers. Ideally, the community of musculoskeletal physicians should agree on a single definition of terms, but until then, authors and spe...

Chondromalacia patellae is difficult to diagnosis clinically with accuracy. In order to clarify the relevant symptoms and signs, 78 patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of chondromalacia were examined by arthroscopy. In 49% of the knees no abnormalities were found. Presenting symptoms were similar in the normal and abnormal groups. Physical signs were more helpful in diagnosis and it i...