Evaluating Patellofemoral Patients: Physical Examination, Radiographic Imaging, and Measurements

Davis L Rogers; Andrew J Cosgarea

doi:10.1016/j.csm.2021.07.001

Evaluating Patellofemoral Patients: Physical Examination, Radiographic Imaging, and Measurements

Clin Sports Med. 2022 Jan;41(1):1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2021.07.001.

Authors

Davis L Rogers¹, Andrew J Cosgarea²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center, 601 North Caroline Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center, 601 North Caroline Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: acosgar@jhmi.edu.

PMID: 34782067
DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2021.07.001

Abstract

Patellofemoral pain is one of the most common symptoms of patients presenting to sports medicine clinics. Obtaining a pertinent history and performing a thorough examination is crucial to identifying the subset of patients with instability who are most likely to benefit from surgical stabilization. A comprehensive radiographic work-up that includes standard radiographs and advanced imaging helps elucidate the diagnosis and provides crucial information for preoperative planning. This article reviews the evaluation, physical examination, and interpretation of radiographic imaging of patients with patellofemoral pain as an introduction to subsequent articles in this issue discussing surgical interventions.

Keywords: Malalignment; Maltracking; Patella dislocation; Patella instability; Patellofemoral pain.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Joint Instability*
Patella / diagnostic imaging
Patellofemoral Joint* / diagnostic imaging
Physical Examination
Radiography