Diagnosis and treatment of excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint caused by military training.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint caused by military training.


METHODS
Fifteen patients (patient group) and 18 healthy volunteers (control group) were involved in this retrospective study. Radiographs of the knee joints of all patients and volunteers were taken. The bone architecture was assessed, the trochlear angle, coincidence angle and patellofemoral joint index measured in both groups, and the resulting data compared. All 15 patients (17 knees) were treated by lateral collateral retinaculum release. Pre- and post-operative pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS).


RESULTS
The differences between the two groups in coincidence angle (patient group: 7.67°± 5.81°; control group: -2.2°±-2.71°) and patellofemoral joint index (patient group: 2.49 ± 1.40; control group: 1.25 ± 0.15) were statistically significant. Subchondral bone sclerosis and osteophytosis in the patellofemoral joint were more pronounced in the patient group than in the control group. The VAS was higher preoperatively (7.06 ± 0.85) than postoperatively (6 months postoperatively: 3.87 ± 0.24; 1 year postoperatively: 3.01 ± 0.17), and the differences between preoperative and postoperative were statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Apart from the case history, typical symptoms and physical signs, X-ray examination is the most basic way to diagnose excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint, and the patellofemoral joint index is the most reliable for diagnosis. Lateral collateral retinaculum release with a small-incision is an effective treatment for this disease.
Institute of Military Training-Related Medical Science, 150 Hospital of PLA, LuoYang, HeNan, China. zhdh70517@sina.com
De-hui
DH
Zhang
Zheng-qing
ZQ
Wu
Xin-cheng
XC
Zuo
Jian-wei
JW
Li
Chang-lin
CL
Huang
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome