Chondromalacia patella is the softening and degeneration of the tissue (cartilage) underneath the kneecap (patella).
Alternative Names:
Patellofemoral syndrome
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Chondromalacia patella that occurs in adolescents and young adults is thought to be related to overuse, injury, or too much force on the knee. It is more common in females. Many young people have a a slight problem with the position of the kneecap.
Chondromalacia patella may also be a sign of arthritis of the kneecap, which is usually seen in older individuals.
People who have previously had a dislocation, a fracture, or other injury to the kneecap may be more likely to get chondromalacia.
Symptoms:
Knee tenderness
Knee pain in the front of the knee that worsens after sitting for prolonged time
Knee pain that worsens with using stairs or getting out of a chair
A grating or grinding sensation when the knee is extended
Signs and tests:
The doctor will perform a physical examination. The knee may be tender and mildly swollen, and the kneecap may not be perfectly lined up with the femur (thigh bone).
When you straighten your knee, a grinding sensation may be felt below the kneecap. Pressing the kneecap when the knee is straight may be painful.
X-rays are usually normal, although a special x-ray view of the kneecap may show signs of arthritis or tilting.
Review Date: 10/23/2006
Reviewed By: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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General Orthopaedics, Rheumatology 
