The official term is patellofemoral syndrome, yet can also be known as patellalgia, patellofemoral compression syndrome, or patellar malalignment. This medical occurrence still puzzles medical minds today. ItŐs found that this syndrome has multiple causes and therefore, needs more extensive research.
Malalignment often occurs when the patient has a weak vastus medialis. There are many effects for these cases. Some are an altered Q angle, pes planus or cavus, tight hamstrings and a tight iliotibial band. Malalignment can also cause subluxation and patellar dislocation. For children, patellofemerol pain can be caused by trauma. That will lead to fracturing the patella which cannot be detected on an x-ray.
There are a few ways to detect this syndrome. Long-standing pain results with dull pain with sharp pains every once and awhile. If the patient has Osgood-Schlatter disease, they have an elevated risk. It will help to be able to locate the pain be it patellar tendon, synovium or fat pad. The patient may also have subluxation and the iliotibial band may be tight. The iliotibial band tightness can be determined by doing an Ober test.
Basically there are two ways to try and solve patellofemoral pain. Conservative therapy and surgery. The conservative therapy includes plenty of rest, staying off the patella by avoiding jumping, climbing and squatting. It also includes strengthening the quadriceps muscles such as the vastus medialis. It is important that the hamstrings have been sufficiently stretched. McConnell taping, open and closed kinetic-chain exercise and hydrotherapy are among the other ways. There are also three types of surgery that can be used as a last resort if therapy does not work. Patellar lateral release is used for denervation of painful retinaculum and to correct a tilted patella. Patellar realignment is used only if the patient has repeated subluxation with considerable patellar tilting. As a last resort, there is tibial tibercule transfer. This method is used when the patientŐs pain goes from patellar femoral instability to patellar arthritis.
There are many indications to patellar femoral pain that are detectable. Many times conservative therapy is the only thing needed. All that it includes is basic rest, ice, staying off the patella and stretching the muscles. If the pain is much more intense with continual subluxation then surgery is considered. Hopefully, in the future, researchers will be able to pinpoint the reasoning behind patellar femoral pain more accurately.