Chondromalacia patella surgery is an advanced option for treating the condition when more conservative treatments such as physical therapy, injections and braces have failed. The type of surgery you may have will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the cause of the problem.
Surgery usually only considered if other conservative measures have been tried first, but they’ve not worked. Without treatment, it’s likely that your symptoms will get worse over time.
Chondromalacia patella is caused by the cartilage on the underside of your kneecap (patella) breaking down and softening. The exact cause is not known, but it often develops in young adults as a result of:
repeated minor knocks to the knee – such as those experienced during sports involving running or jumping, particularly squash, football and running
an injury to the knee – such as twisting your knee while playing sports
overuse of your knee – such as repeatedly kneeling or squatting
flattening of the arch at the bottom of your foot – which can cause problems with how your leg muscles work
Chondromalacia patella is a softening of the cartilage on the underside of the patella (kneecap). The pain of chondromalacia is generally caused by inflammation from the softening and fraying of the cartilage. Chondromalacia is common in adolescents and can be seen in younger children.
Chondromalacia patella surgeryA chondromalacia patella surgery, or knee arthroscopy, is surgery to repair damage to the cartilage underneath your kneecap.
This is done with an arthroscope, a small camera that allows your doctor to look inside your knee joint.
The procedure helps relieve pain from chondromalacia patella. It may also help prevent further damage to your knee.
How is chondromalacia treated?
Chondromalacia patella or kneecap pain is often treated with non-surgical methods, including activity modification and physical therapy. These treatments include:
Resting the knee
Wearing a brace or knee strap
Medications
Ice or heat therapy
Exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscles and loosen the hamstring muscles.
If nonsurgical treatment does not work, surgery may be needed. The type of surgery depends on the cause of the problem, such as an abnormality with the kneecap, a tight hamstring muscle, or weakness in the quadriceps muscle. If an abnormality with the kneecap is causing pain, it can be moved back into place (realigned). This is called medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFL). The surgeon makes a small cut over your knee to move your kneecap into proper position. If you have weak quadriceps muscles and tight hamstring muscles, surgery can be done to lengthen the hamstring muscles and tighten up the quadriceps muscles.
Chondromalacia patella is a condition in which the cartilage under the kneecap (patella) softens and breaks down. The condition most commonly occurs in young, active adults, particularly females. Chondromalacia often coexists with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).
It’s not clear what causes chondromalacia. Possible causes include:
Muscle imbalance
Maltracking of the kneecap
Overuse, especially in activities that require frequent bending of the knee, such as biking or running
Chondromalacia usually responds well to conservative treatment. If conservative treatment fails, surgery may be recommended.
The diagnosis is based on physical examination and imaging tests. Other conditions that cause similar symptoms include patellofemoral pain syndrome, osteoarthritis and tendonitis.
Chondromalacia patella is the term used to describe softening of the cartilage under your kneecap, or patella. The condition can cause pain and discomfort, especially when you bend your knee. It’s common in young people and athletes.
Causes
Chondromalacia happens when the cartilage on the back of your kneecap softens or breaks down. Your knees need this smooth surface so they can move easily.
It’s not clear what causes chondromalacia patella, but it may be:
the result of a one-off injury
due to repeated overuse of the kneecap – for example, from running, cycling or playing sports such as football or tennis
caused by poor alignment of the bones in the knee joint – this is known as maltracking
The condition is more common in:
women than men – this could be due to differences in how their joints are aligned
people who do activities that put pressure on their kneecaps, such as cycling and running
children and teenagers who are still growing and developing
Chondromalacia patella is the medical term for softening of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap.
The kneecap (patella) is a small bone that sits within the tendon connecting your quadriceps muscle at the front of your thigh to your shin bone. The back of your kneecap has a layer of smooth cartilage that stops it rubbing on the bones in your knee when you bend your leg.
Chondromalacia patella develops when this layer of cartilage starts to soften and break down. This is usually due to repeated pressure, such as from kneeling or squatting, or from developing flat feet or over-pronated feet.
Chondromalacia, also known as patellofemoral syndrome, is when cartilage on the undersurface of the patella (kneecap), or on the trochlea of the femur, wears down and softens. This wear and tear can be caused by poor tracking of the kneecap and/or overuse.
This condition is often associated with anterior knee pain in young adults. It is more common in females than males. The diagnosis is based on clinical examination and may include an MRI, X-ray, or ultrasound to confirm a diagnosis.
Treatment involves avoiding activities that cause pain, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, ice massage prior to activity, use of a patella strap, use of a knee brace or orthotic devices inside the shoe. If symptoms persist despite conservative treatment options then surgery may be considered.
How Long Does it Take to Recover From Chondromalacia Patella Surgery?
Chondromalacia patella is technically not a diagnosis but rather a symptom of an underlying condition. The term chondromalacia means softening of the cartilage. Patella refers to the kneecap. Chondromalacia patella is typically used to describe the wearing away or softening of the cartilage under the kneecap. The most common cause of this condition is repetitive stress to the knee joint, such as in people who participate in sports that involve running and jumping, like basketball, tennis, soccer and skiing.
In most cases, treatment options for chondromalacia patella are non-operative and include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and weight loss. Surgery may be recommended if non-surgical methods fail to relieve your symptoms after six months of treatment
During surgery for chondromalacia patella, the surgeon will likely remove small pieces of damaged cartilage from the backside of your kneecap (patella) and from your femur (thighbone). After clearing away these fragments of cartilage, the surgeon will smooth any rough spots on your kneecap or
How long does it take to recover from chondromalacia patella surgery?
Chondromalacia patella is a cartilage degeneration that affects the knee joint. When chondromalacia patella worsens, the patient develops pain and difficulty walking. When this happens, surgery is necessary in order to relieve the symptoms. The type of surgery varies depending on the severity of the injury. We recommend you consult with a specialized doctor for more information about the surgery you will undergo.
Recovery from chondromalacia patella surgery is usually much quicker than other forms of knee surgery. This is in part because the surgeon has to work with a smaller area and also because you are less likely to have pain when you wake up.
The recovery time for chondromalacia patella surgery will vary depending on how bad your condition was, how extensive the work needed to be done and your general fitness level. For a simple arthroscopic procedure, the recovery time is around 6 weeks.
In order to recover quickly from this surgery, you should start doing some knee exercises within a few days of returning home. The exercises can start out being very simple and increase in difficulty as your knee starts to recover. You may also find it helpful to use ice packs and/or heat therapy on your knee.
It is important not to overdo it as this can lead to complications such as blood clots or infection. Most people are able to drive after two weeks, but it’s best not to rush things if possible.
The rehabilitation period after chondromalacia patella surgery varies by the type of procedure performed.
Patients who undergo a traditional arthroscopic procedure can expect their rehabilitation to last between six and eight weeks. During this time, they are advised to keep the operated knee elevated and remain immobile.
Patients who undergo a less invasive arthroscopic procedure can expect their rehabilitation to last between one and three weeks, depending on their recovery rate. During this time, they are not advised to remain immobile but may be required to wear a leg brace or knee pad to provide support while walking.
With either type of surgery, patients should consider physical therapy as part of their rehabilitation plan. This is especially important for those undergoing the more invasive procedure because complications from chondromalacia patella often result in muscle imbalances that can cause pain, instability and even further damage if left untreated.
Physical therapy for chondromalacia patella involves exercises designed to strengthen the quadriceps muscles located around the kneecap and improve flexibility in the tendons located on the underside of the kneecap. Common exercises include straight leg raises, wall slides, quad sets, standing hamstring curls and standing calf raises. Physical therapists may also
Chondromalacia patella results when the under-surface of the kneecap (patella) is worn or damaged. This causes pain and swelling behind and around the kneecap.
A partial lateral release is done in patients who have a tight IT band, which pulls the kneecap laterally. This may be part of an arthroscopic treatment for chondromalacia patella. The patient may be in a cast or brace for approximately 1 week following surgery.
The doctor may recommend physical therapy exercises to help restore range of motion and strengthen the muscles about the knee. The patient will be able to return to most normal activities, including driving, within 3-4 weeks after surgery. However, he or she will not be able to resume sports until 6-8 weeks after surgery.
Chondromalacia patella is a condition that causes poor tracking of the kneecap, which can be very painful. When conservative treatment approaches don’t work, surgery is often the next step. This procedure is called a microfracture, and it’s designed to stimulate healing in the knee by creating small fractures in the bone.
Before surgery, your doctor will thoroughly review what you can expect from the procedure. In general, you should be able to get back on your feet within a few days of surgery, but you’ll need to avoid high-impact activities for several months. Your doctor will provide specific information about your recovery.
Can Surgery Fix Chondromalacia Patella?
For many people with chondromalacia patella, treatment may involve one or more of the following:
Physical therapy. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to stretch and strengthen your thigh muscles, which can help keep your kneecap in proper alignment.
Activity modifications. Certain activities, such as running and using stair-climbing machines, place increased stress on the knee and might worsen symptoms. Your doctor may recommend avoiding these activities for a time to see if your pain improves.
Bracing. Knee braces can provide support to the kneecap and may help decrease pain.
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. Pain is usually treated first with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). If these don’t relieve your pain, a doctor might prescribe stronger medications. Anti-inflammatory medications can also help reduce swelling around your knee joint.
Injections. You might receive injections of a corticosteroid medication into or near the affected area of your knee joint to control pain and inflammation. You may not be able to receive more than three cortisone shots in a year because repeated injections can damage cartilage
Chondromalacia patella is a condition which causes pain and inflammation in the knee joint. It usually affects young people, particularly females, because the abnormal shape of their kneecap (patella) leads to friction between the patella and thigh bone (femur).
Chondromalacia patella is a fairly common cause of anterior knee pain. This is also known as runner’s knee or jumper’s knee, because it often occurs in athletes. The kneecap may become worn away and roughened.
In many cases, chondromalacia patella can be treated with simple self-help measures and medication. However, some people may need surgery to fix the problem.
Chondromalacia patella is a common cause of knee pain. When the cartilage on the undersurface of the kneecap (patella) softens and wears away, the condition is known as chondromalacia patella. This can cause a grinding sensation in the joint, along with knee pain and sometimes swelling.
Causes of chondromalacia patella include:
Overuse or overloading, resulting from activities such as running, jumping, squatting or climbing stairs
Malalignment — when your kneecap tracks improperly in the trochlear groove of your thighbone (femur)
Dislocated kneecap
Tight or weak thigh muscles
Arthroscopic surgery can be performed to treat chondromalacia of the patella. During the procedure, your doctor will use a small camera and other instruments inserted through small incisions in your knee joint to trims away damaged cartilage and smooth out any rough areas on the back of your kneecap. This can allow your patella to glide more smoothly across your knee joint.
In some cases, arthroscopic surgery may be combined with other procedures such as a lateral release, in which ligaments on the side of your kneecap are partially cut to reduce pressure on it. Another option is a realignment procedure that changes the angle at which your kneecap rests on your thigh bone, also reducing pressure and friction on the cartilage surface.
Surgery can often successfully relieve pain from chondromalacia of the patella, but it doesn’t always prevent recurrence. If you have chondromalacia of the patella, it’s important to work with your doctor to develop a long-term plan for managing symptoms and preventing future problems.
Options include:
Exercises that focus on strengthening muscles in the front and back of your thighs (quadriceps and hamstrings)
Weight
Chondromalacia patella, or runner’s knee, is a condition that causes softening, thinning and degeneration of the articular cartilage on the underside of the kneecap.
This condition can cause pain and swelling under, around and behind the kneecap. Often, this pain worsens when going up or down stairs or sitting with bent knees for a long time.
There are many nonsurgical treatments to help alleviate the symptoms of this condition. When nonsurgical options fail to control pain, you may be referred to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss surgical options.
Chondromalacia patella (CM) is the softening and breakdown of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap (patella). This can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty moving.
Chondromalacia patellae is a condition in which the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap (patella) has softened and degenerated. The cartilage may be torn or frayed, and pieces of it may float within the knee joint. These pieces can cause pain, swelling and catching or locking of the knee.
Chondromalacia patellae is a common cause of anterior knee pain and occurs most often in adolescents and young adults.
Usually chondromalacia patellae can be treated with conservative treatment measures, such as activity modification, physical therapy, bracing and medication. But sometimes surgery is necessary to relieve pain and restore function