title: The pathophysiology of patellofemoral arthritis.
abstract: Faced with a patient suffering from patellofemoral arthritis, the surgeon must determine the pathophysiology of the condition, because different causes demand different treatments. Possible causes include malalignment, patellofemoral dysplasia, patellofemoral instability, patellofemoral trauma, obesity, osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, and a genetic predisposition. Arthritis secondary to malalignment, dysplasia, instability, or trauma is less likely than arthritis secondary to the other causes to progress to femorotibial arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Patellofemoral Reconstruction, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, Box 1188, 5 East 98th Street, New York, NY 10029, USA. ronald.grelsamer@mountsinai.org
authors.forename: Ronald P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Grelsamer
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dejour
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors