The patella, also called the kneecap is a small bone present on the front of your knee joint. The underside of the patella is covered by cartilage that allows smooth gliding of the knee with movement. Overuse or misalignment of the patella can cause wear and tear of the cartilage.
Chondromalacia patella is a common condition characterized by sof tening, weakening and damage of the cartilage. The condition is most of ten seen among young athletes and older adults who have arthritis of the knee. It is especially seen in women.
There is no explicit reason why the cartilage damage occurs. However, it is associated with improper knee alignment or imbalance in the tightness of the muscles holding it in place. Overuse of the knee in certain sports activities may cause wear and tear of the cartilage. This may cause rubbing or grinding of the kneecap against the bone instead of it smoothly gliding over the knee joint.
Chondromalacia patella may also be caused due to injuries such as fractures or dislocations, or may develop as a part of your ageing process.
Chondromalacia patella is the most common cause of knee pain. Called Patellofemoral pain, it is characterized by the following:
Other symptoms may include:
Your doctor will conduct a physical examination by applying pressure on different areas of your knee and moving your leg in different positions. You may be asked to undergo imaging tests including an X-ray, CT scan and MRI scan to obtain detailed images of the bones and sof t tissues of the knee.
The treatment of chondromalacia patella initially involves simple conservative procedures.
When non-surgical treatment does not relieve pain, your doctor may recommend surgical treatment. Surgery may involve:
Your doctor will examine your condition and provide you with best treatment option.