title: Arthrography and the medial compartment of the patello-femoral joint.
abstract: In four groups of patients with normal patellar cartilage, synovitis, patellar chondropathy , and degenerative changes of the patellar surface of the femur, the anatomical relationships within the medial compartment of the patello-femoral joint were examined. Clear differences were observed between these groups in the incidence of visualization of the medial alar plica and the mediopatellar synovial plica. As a consequence, an explanation has been sought for the occurrence of patellar chondropathy and degenerative changes of the patellar surface of the femur. It seems probable that a long-standing traumatic synovitis with effusion, attenuation of the synovial membrane, and the composition of the synovial fluid can lead to patellar chondropathy . The degenerative changes of the patellar surface of the femur are usually secondary to those of the load-bearing patellar facet. Insufficient covering of the cartilage by soft tissue may play a role in chondropathy of the nonload -bearing portion of the patella and the femoral condyle.
mesh_terms: D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013585:Synovitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*