title: Anterior knee pain in the young athlete: diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: The underlying etiology of anterior knee pain has been extensively studied. Despite many possible causes, often times the diagnosis is elusive. The most common causes in the young athlete are osteosynchondroses, patellar peritendinitis and tendinosis, synovial impingement, malalignment, and patellar instability. Less common causes are osteochondritis dissecans and tumors. It is always important to rule out underlying hip pathology and infections. When a diagnosis cannot be established, the patient is usually labeled as having idiopathic anterior knee pain. A careful history and physical examination can point to the correct diagnosis in the majority of cases. For most of these conditions, treatment is typically nonoperative with surgery reserved for refractory pain for an established diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas at Houston Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kodali
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andrish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004839:Epiphyses, Slipped / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006615:Hip / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007717:Knee / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010008:Osteochondritis Dissecans / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D055034:Osteochondrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D031222:Patellar Dislocation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy