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Review
. 2024 Dec;17(12):589-615.
doi: 10.1007/s12178-024-09930-x. Epub 2024 Nov 11.

Advanced Non-Operative Interventions for Anterior Knee Pain

Nicole B Katz  1   2 , Nicholas Tsitsilianos  3   4 , Andrew S Nowak  5 , Stephanie R Douglas  6 , Adam S Tenforde #  3   4 , Joanne Borg-Stein #  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Advanced Non-Operative Interventions for Anterior Knee Pain

Nicole B Katz et al. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review presents evidence for advanced non-operative interventions, including extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), adipose tissue-derived cells, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, various additional non-corticosteroid injectates, and needle-based interventions for common causes of anterior knee pain in the adult population. These etiologies include osteoarthritis of the knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome, chondromalacia patella, Hoffa fat pad impingement syndrome, patellar/quadriceps tendinopathy, and prepatellar bursitis. This review discusses patient care options using a case-based understanding of interventions by condition while recognizing strength of evidence.

Recent findings: ESWT and PRP are the most robustly studied and have greatest evidence for treating tibiofemoral osteoarthritis and for long-term benefit in treating patellar tendinopathy. PRP may have evidence for treatment of chondromalacia and prolotherapy for management of tibiofemoral arthritis; both have limited evidence. Botulinum neurotoxin type A has strong evidence to support use in treating patellofemoral pain syndrome. There is limited evidence to support the use of viscosupplementation, percutaneous needle tenotomy, and medicinal signaling cell-based therapies beyond platelet-rich plasma for anterior knee pain. There is limited research on the management of quadriceps tendinopathy, prepatellar bursitis, patellofemoral osteoarthritis, and Hoffa's fat pad impingement syndrome. Further research and standardization of protocols are necessary to fully assess these treatments' efficacy. ESWT, cell-based, and needle-based interventions, may serve as effective treatment options for patients with anterior knee pain. Selection of each intervention requires understanding the evidence, level of risk, and appropriate application based on a patient's level of activity to enable clinicians to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.

Keywords: Hoffa Syndrome; Knee osteoarthritis; Knee pain; Patellar tendinopathy; Patellofemoral pain syndrome; Prepatellar bursitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics Statement: A.S.T. serves as Senior editor for PM&R Journal. He gives professional talks, such as grand rounds and medical conference plenary lectures, and receives honoraria from conference organizers. He has participated in research funded by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation (physician and patient care disparities), the Football Player Health Study at Harvard (health in American-Style Football players), the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (bone density research), the Uniform Health Service and Enovis (Achilles tendinopathy). He is also receiving funding support from NFLPA and Department of Defense for studies evaluating shockwave for management of orthopedic injuries. He is a paid consultant for State Farm Insurance and Strava. Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent: This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors. Conflict of Interest: Nicole B. Katz, Nicholas Tsitsilianos, Andrew S. Nowak, Stephanie R. Douglas, and Joanne Borg-Stein declare that they have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Anterior knee pain generators. Created with BioRender.com
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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