| Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Hoffa's disease [1] |
 | |
| Cross section of the human knee | |
| Specialty | Orthopedics, sports medicine |
| Symptoms | Pain in the front of the knee [2] |
| Causes | Trauma, surgery [1] |
| Differential diagnosis | Patellar tendinopathy, infrapatellar bursitis [2] |
| Treatment | Steroid injections, physical therapy, surgery [2] [1] |
| Frequency | Relatively common (athletes) [2] |
Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome, also known as Hoffa's disease, is when pain in the front of the knee occurs due to problems with the infrapatellar fat pad. [2] Pain is generally just below the kneecap. [2] Symptoms may worsen if the knee is overly straightened or bent for too long a period. [2] Complications may include an inability to fully straighten the knee. [2]
The underlying mechanism may involve bleeding, inflammation, or insufficient space for the fat pad. [2] This may occur as a result of trauma or surgery to the knee. [1] Diagnosis may be supported by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). [2]
Treatment is generally by steroid injections and physical therapy. [2] [1] If this is not effective surgery removal may be tried. [2] While overall it is an uncommon condition, [3] it is relatively common in athletes. [2]
Treatment
Treatment is generally by steroid injections and physical therapy. [2] [1] If this is not effective surgery removal may be tried. [2] High quality evidence for surgery is lacking as of 2015. [3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Dragoo, JL; Johnson, C; McConnell, J (1 January 2012). "Evaluation and treatment of disorders of the infrapatellar fat pad". Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.). 42 (1): 51–67. doi: 10.2165/11595680-000000000-00000. PMID 22149697.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Hiemstra, LA; Kerslake, S; Irving, C (July 2014). "Anterior knee pain in the athlete". Clinics in Sports Medicine. 33 (3): 437–59. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2014.03.010. PMID 24993409.
- ^ a b Rooney, A; Wahba, AJ; Smith, TO; Donell, ST (June 2015). "The surgical treatment of anterior knee pain due to infrapatellar fat pad pathology: A systematic review". Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Surgery & Research. 101 (4): 469–75. doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2015.01.019. PMID 25935799.