Lateral patellar dislocations are the second leading cause of traumatic knee hemarthroses, and recurrent patellar dislocations often require surgery. The medial knee structures responsible for stabilization of the patellofemoral joint are the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), the medial patellotibial ligament (MPTL), and the medial patellomeniscal ligament (MPML). Although […]
Tibial plateau fractures are caused by a force driving the lower end of the femur (thigh bone) into the soft bone of the tibial plateau.
One area of the knee that is not discussed as often as some of the other components, is a section called the trochlea. This area of the knee is easy to identify. When the knee is bent, the undersurface of the kneecap (the patella) lies in an area known as […]
In the past, any type of pain over the anterior aspect of the knee was commonly called patellofemoral chondromalacia. However, patellofemoral chondromalacia is a specific term describing a particular pathology/injury that should only be used in cases with this problem.
Chondromalacia, or damage to the cartilage, is the formation of early arthritis. Any […]
Lateral patellar instability is almost always due to a patellar (kneecap) dislocation. In this circumstance, an athlete or patient will experience their kneecap slipping out of the lateral (outside) aspect of their knee. It almost always occurs with the knee straight or at shallow degrees of knee flexion rather than with […]
A bipartite patella forms when a portion of the patella does not completely heal along the bony edges of the patella. Most commonly, this is in the upper and outer (superolateral) portion of the patella. Bipartite patella is quite common, usually asymptomatic, and is found in 2% of the population on x-rays. […]
The patella, or kneecap, is one of the three bones that make up the knee joint, residing near the tibia (shinbone) and femur (thigh) bones. Located directly on top of the knee as a large, round structure, it is an important part of the knee joint because it provides leverage on top of the knee […]
