title: Evaluation of the peripatellar soft tissues and retinaculum in patients with patellofemoral pain.
abstract: Peripatellar muscle, retinaculum, and tendon must be examined carefully in every patient with patellofemoral pain. A hemangioma in the distal quadriceps can cause anterior knee pain. Patellar articular cartilage disruption is not consistently associated with patellofemoral pain, although chronic malalignment of the patella may eventually lead to cartilage damage. In many patients, before articular degeneration occurs, retinacular pain may evolve that is related to chronic stress in retinacular structures around the patella. Consequently, soft-tissue restraints around the patella should be evaluated completely and carefully in all patients with patellofemoral pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fulkerson
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010329:Patella / Q000503:physiopathology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical