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. 2014 Jul;5(3):136-44.
doi: 10.1177/1947603514530142.

Chondral Injury in Patellofemoral Instability

Timothy Lording  1 , Sébastien Lustig  2 , Elvire Servien  2 , Philippe Neyret  2
Affiliations

Chondral Injury in Patellofemoral Instability

Timothy Lording et al. Cartilage. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: Patellofemoral instability is common and affects a predominantly young age group. Chondral injury occurs in up to 95%, and includes osteochondral fractures and loose bodies acutely and secondary degenerative changes in recurrent cases. Biomechanical abnormalities, such as trochlear dysplasia, patella alta, and increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove distance, predispose to both recurrent dislocations and patellofemoral arthrosis.

Design: In this article, we review the mechanisms of chondral injury in patellofemoral instability, diagnostic modalities, the distribution of lesions seen in acute and episodic dislocation, and treatments for articular cartilage lesions of the patellofemoral joint.

Results: Little specific evidence exists for cartilage treatments in patellofemoral instability. In general, the results of reparative and restorative procedures in the patellofemoral joint are inferior to those observed in other compartments of the knee.

Conclusion: Given the increased severity of chondral lesions and progression to osteoarthritis seen with recurrent dislocations, careful consideration should be given to early stabilisation in patients with predisposing factors.

Keywords: articular cartilage; instability; patellofemoral joint.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
(A) Computed tomography arthrogram demonstrating central and medial patella chondral damage with loose cartilage in the patellofemoral joint. (B) Arthroscopic view in the same patient demonstrating chondral injury to the central and medial patella with loss of the patella ridge.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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