Anterior knee pain (patellofemoral dysfunction) AKA idiopathic adolescent anterior knee pain, chondromalacia patellae is common in adolescence, especially in girls
Unclear - may be due to muscle imbalance, ligamentous laxity and subtle skeletal predisposition (genu valgum, wide hips, femoral neck anteversion, internal rotation)
There may be softening of the hyaline cartilage of the patella (chondromalacia patellae)
Some cases have obvious patellar maltracking
Management
The majority of cases are self‐limiting and the mainstay of treatment is physiotherapy to rebalance the muscles
Most patients 'grow out' of the condition
Occasionally resistant cases may require surgery to shift the forces on the patella (tibial tubercle transfer) - results can be unpredictable
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