Arthroscopy in the diagnosis of chondromalacia patellae

SUMMARY Chondromalacia patellae is difficult to diagnose clinically with accuracy. In order to clarify the relevant symptoms and signs, 78 patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of chondro-malacia were examined by arthroscopy. In 49 % of the knees no abnormalities were found. Pre-senting symptoms were similar in the normal and abnormal groups. Physical signs were more helpful in diagnosis and it is considered that the presence of an effusion, quadriceps wasting, and patello-femoral crepitus are the most important clinical findings in the diagnosis of chondro-malacia patellae. The arthroscope is a valuable instrument in establishing the diagnosis of chondromalacia patellae especially in the teenage female. Chondromalacia patellae, or softening of the arti-cular cartilage of the patella, manifested by pain in the patello-femoral joint, is a common disorder affecting adolescents and young adults. Budinger (1906) first described fissures occuring in the arti-cular cartilage of the patella and the term 'chondro-malacia patellae ' was introduced by Konig (1924) and Aleman (1927). The true incidence of this disease is unclear. Anderson (1944) reported an incidence of 20 % in 5