title: [Therapy of isolated arthritis in the patellofemoral joint: are there evidence-based options?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isolated osteoarthritis of the patellofemoral joint occurs in 9% of patients over 40 years of age and women are more often affected. Options of treatment are varied and not sufficiently justified by the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature research with keywords in the field of femoropatellar osteoarthritis was carried out in the relevant databases. Studies were categorized into different treatment options and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are almost no level I studies comparing the different treatment options. In the literature there are indications that relief of pain can be achieved by conservative treatment, arthroscopic surgery, cartilage conserving surgery and isolated arthroplasty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the fact that there are almost no prospective randomized controlled trials, none of the options for treatment can be highly recommended. There is still no gold standard for the treatment of isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Schwerpunkt Orthopädie, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Aachen, Deutschland. cluering@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lüring
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tingart
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Drescher
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Springorum
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010329:Patella / Q000601:surgery; D057071:Patellofemoral Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic