Anterior knee pain: a long-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term outcome of anterior knee pain diagnosed in childhood.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients diagnosed with anterior knee pain in childhood were contacted by postal questionnaire 4-18 yr after initial presentation.


RESULTS
The 22 respondents comprised 16 women and six men, with mean age at follow-up of 22 yr. Twenty of 22 (91%) still had knee pains, eight daily, two weekly and 10 occasionally. In 10 (45%) the pain affected their daily life and in eight (36%) it restricted their physical activities. Twelve (54%) used painkillers. Ten (45%) had developed other diagnoses: four had psoriasis and six arthritis, of whom one had ankylosing spondylitis. Fifteen (68%) had symptoms in other joints at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that anterior knee pain that occurs in childhood may not be so benign a condition as thought.
Stathopulu
E
E
Department of Community Paediatrics, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, Kent, UK. eleni.stathopulu@medway-tr.sthames.nhs.uk
Baildam
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis
D000700:Analgesics