What is chondromalacia patella right knee?
What is chondromalacia patella right knee?
Chondromalacia patella (knee pain) is the softening and breakdown of the tissue (cartilage) on the underside of the kneecap (patella). Pain results when the knee and the thigh bone (femur) rub together. Dull, aching pain and/or a feeling of grinding when the knee is flexed may occur.
Is chondromalacia serious?
Chondromalacia patellae is damage to the cartilage at the back of the kneecap (patella). The usual treatment advised is to avoid overuse of the knee and to have physiotherapy, which is effective in most cases.
How many grades of chondromalacia are there?
Grading. There are four grades, ranging from grade 1 to 4, that designate the severity of runner’s knee. Grade 1 is least severe, while grade 4 indicates the greatest severity. Grade 1 severity indicates softening of the cartilage in the knee area.
Can you fix chondromalacia?
Treatment. Unlike the damage to cartilage caused by arthritis, damage caused by chondromalacia can often heal. Conservative treatment is usually recommended first since rest and physical therapy may eliminate the symptoms.
How to treat knee pain caused by chondromalacia?
The most common way to treat symptoms of chondromalacia patella is to rest the knee. What is chondromalacia patella? Chondromalacia patella (knee pain) is the softening and breakdown of the tissue (cartilage) on the underside of the kneecap (patella). Pain results when the knee and the thigh bone (femur) rub together.
How is chondromalacia patella misdiagnosed as runners knee?
Chondromalacia patella is frequently misdiagnosed as Runners Knee, which is actually a problem with how the kneecap moves rather than the cartilage itself.
What kind of surgery is needed for chondromalacia patella?
Knee Surgery: Surgery for chondromalacia patella is only considered if nothing else works and the pain is really affecting your daily life. Most commonly it will be a knee arthroscopy, keyhole surgery where they make 2-3 small holes around the knee and insert a camera.
How long does it take to recover from chondromalacia patella?
Individuals suffering from knee pain caused by chondromalacia patella often make a full recovery. Recovery can be as fast as a month or take years, depending on the case. Many long-term recoveries occur in teenagers because their bones are still growing. Symptoms tend to disappear once adulthood is reached.
How to diagnose and grade chondromalacia patella?
Diagnosing and grading chondromalacia patella The main symptoms of chondromalacia (swelling, grinding, and pain) are unfortunately common to many disorders of the knee. So the only way to truly be sure of a diagnosis of chondromalacia is by getting an MRI, which allows us to see the cartilage inside the knee.
Is there a connection between runners knee and chondromalacia?
Another common cause of similar pain is Runners Knee aka Anterior Knee Pain or Patellofemoral Pain. While the symptoms can be similar, there is not the softening and damage to the cartilage that is characteristic of chondromalacia. Treatment is however similar for both conditions.
Are there any nonsurgical treatments for chondromalacia?
If nonsurgical treatment fails, your doctor can perform surgery to remove the area of damaged cartilage. Once this is done, most patients find that their symptoms improve. You can reduce your risk of chondromalacia by preventing knee injuries and overuse of your knee joints. To do this:
Can a MRI show cartilage damage from chondromalacia?
X-rays usually do not show the damage caused by chondromalacia, although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may. Unlike the damage to cartilage caused by arthritis, damage caused by chondromalacia can often heal.