Chondromalacia Patella
Overview
Definition
Articular cartilage cushions the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone) where they meet in the knee, allowing them to move freely and easily. Chondromalacia patella is a softening or wearing away of the articular cartilage on the undersurface of the patella (kneecap).
Chondromalacia of the Knee |
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Risk Factors
Chondromalacia patella is more common in adolescents and young adults. Other factors that increase your risk of chondromalacia patella include:
- Participation in activities like running, skiing, cycling, or soccer that put repeated pressure on the patellofemoral joint
- Knock-knee abnormality of the leg
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Treatments
Treatment
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Options include:
Supportive Care
The knee will need time to heal. RICE is often the main part of treatment:
- Rest—Activities may need to be restricted at first.
- Ice—Ice therapy may help relieve swelling.
- Compression—Compression bandages can provide gentle pressure to help move fluid out of the area.
- Elevation—Keeping the affected area elevated can help fluids drain out or prevent fluids from building up.
Prescription or over-the-counter medications may be advised to reduce pain.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist will assess the knee. An exercise program will be created to help recover and to strengthen the muscles in the leg.
Surgery
In most cases, surgery is not needed. But surgery may be needed if other treatments are not helpful. Surgical procedures include the following:
- Moving the quadriceps muscle insertion on the lower leg to improve alignment
- Releasing the lateral thigh muscles and tightening the medial muscles
- Smoothing over the undersurface of the patella
- Implanting cartilage taken from one’s own knee
Prevention
To reduce your chances of chondromalacia patella, take these steps:
- Maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on your knees.
- Properly warm up before exercising or doing any physical activity.
- Maintain proper strength by exercising the quadriceps, calf muscles, and hamstring muscles.
- Use proper footwear for your sport. You may need orthotic support to help correct misalignment.
- Slowly increase activity to avoid stress on the knee.
- Use proper form and technique for any sport.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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All rights reserved.
RESOURCES
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine http://www.sportsmed.org
OrthoInfo—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Orthopaedic Association http://www.coa-aco.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation http://www.canorth.org
References
Harris JD, Siston RA, et al. Autologous chondrocyte implantation: a systematic review. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010 Sep 15;92(12):2220-2233.
Knee pain. Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries%5Fpoisoning/sports%5Finjury/knee%5Fpain.html. Updated October 2014. Accessed March 26, 2018.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116002/Patellofemoral-pain-syndrome . Updated February 28, 2017. Accessed March 26, 2018.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee). Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/mens%5Fhealth/patellofemoral%5Fpain%5Fsyndrome%5Frunners%5Fknee%5F85,P07841/. Accessed March 26, 2018.
Pihlajamäki HK, Kuikka PI, et al. Reliability of clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of chondromalacia patellae. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010 Apr;92(4):927-934.
Runner's knee (patellofemoral pain). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome/. Updated February 2015. Accessed March 26, 2018.
Vasiliadis HS, Wasiak J, et al. Autologous chondrocyte implantation for the treatment of cartilage lesions of the knee: a systematic review of randomized studies. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2010 Dec;18(12):1645-1655.