Anterior Knee Pain

Causes of pain

Osgood-Schlatter’s disease – Adolescent condition causing pain at patella tendon insertion to tibia

Sinding-Larsen-Johansson – Tendinopathy at the lower pole of the patella before skeletal maturity

Idiopathic knee pain – Pain of unknown cause

Jumper’s knee – Tendinopathy at the lower pole of the patella after skeletal maturity

Quadriceps tendinopathy – Tendinopathy at the quadriceps tendon

Bipartite patella – Where the patella is made from 2 bone forming centres rather than one

Stress fracture – Normally transverse (across the patella) in athletes

Trauma-related lesions – e.g. Direct contact injuries causing structural knee damage

Chondromalacia – Slightly old-fashioned term implying softening of the patella cartilage

Osteochondritis Dissecans – A section of cartilage and bone may become loose behind the patella – likely injury related

Bone bruising – Either from a direct or indirect injury

Post-traumatic wear – Even when well treated pain following patella fracture is common

Syndromes and dysplasias – e.g. Nail patella syndrome, Down’s syndrome, Marfan’s syndrome

Maltracking – Common

Subluxation/tilt – Associated with muscle and softy tissue imbalance

Tumours – Rare

Fat pad impingment – an outsized infrapatellar fat pad caught in the knee on movement

Excessive lateral pressure – Caused by tight soft tissue on the outer part of the knee-cap

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – An abnormal nerve response often to minimal trauma

Plicae – Catching of the inner folded lining of the knee often with associated cartilage injury

Bursae – Pain related to the bursa tissue around the knee

Patellar tendon mineralisation – Due to degeneration

Posterior cruciate ligament rupture – Psychogenic

Infrapatellar contracture – Often as a result of surgery, trauma or extended periods of immobility

Iatrogenic conditions – Problems resulting from a therapist’s intervention – such as painful scar following knee arthroscopy

As is clear from reviewing this list, the first stage in managing the problem is to establish a working diagnosis. This is done by the doctor, surgeon or physiotherapist listening to the patient and then examining them.

Often, tests will be arranged that help to clarify the diagnosis such as X-rays or scans. The story of the pain may be well localized to one area, but is usually vaguely anterior. It is often worsened by loading a bent knee (climbing stairs or inclines) or after sitting for prolonged periods and giving way episodes are often reported. Examination may reveal crepitus (grinding under the knee), catching, weakness and/or an effusion. The knee-cap may be tilted to one side or track abnormally on bending and straightening the knee.

The patella (or knee-cap) is a bone that sits at the front of the knee. It has a very important role in the function of the knee and, as can be seen from the list of causes of anterior knee pain, can often be involved in the cause of the symptoms.

The functions of the patella are as follows:

1. It improves the efficiency of the quadriceps muscles (the bulky muscles on the front of the thigh) by lengthening the moment arm i.e. it makes the muscles that extend the knee able to create more force
2. It decreases friction at the patellofemoral joint
3. It improves stability of the knee
4. It “centralizes” the quadriceps muscle pull – making the thigh muscles more effective

The knee-cap joint viewed from above at arthroscopy

Acute injuries to the patello-femoral joint include direct trauma, subluxation or dislocation, patellar fracture, quadriceps tendon or patellar ligament rupture. Many patients present with anterior knee pain with no injury.