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 that is responsible for a good majority of the strength of extension of the joint. Problems associated with the kneecap are quite common and generally lead to a pain that is felt around, under, or on top of the kneecap itself. While some patellar knee injuries are quite common, others are not. Dr. LaPrade is an expert in diagnosing and treating patellar injuries.
Some of the conditions he treats are listed here:
- Bipartite Patella
- Lateral Patellar Instability | MPFL Repair
- Patellofemoral Chondromalacia
- Trochlear Dysplasia
- Tibial Plateau Fractures
