Chondromalacia of the patella, or actually softening of the cartilage, is an extremely dangerous disease that leads to damage of the cartilage. It most commonly affects the knee joints, especially structures such as the patella and the femoral condyles. Fibrosis, fissures and erosion of the cartilage tissue occur within these structures. These changes often result in degenerative changes of the patellofemoral joint.
When we speak of chondromalacia of the patella, we think of premature wear of articular cartilage. It usually develops in young, active people who cannot give up their physical activity.
People who cannot live without physical activity will not be happy to know that one of the main causes of chondromalacia patella isoverload resulting from intensive sports activities. However, traumaand micro-trauma are considered to be the main contributors to this disease. In people over 50 years of age, up to 80% of the population have signs of degenerative changes in the knee joint, i.e. cartilage disease of the knee joint.
Damage to articular cartilage does not have the ability to heal on its own, it must progress into chronic changes, leading to progressive degradation of the joint and requiring treatment depending on the severity of the degeneration:
Treatment applied in EFFI Clinic in Kraków
- Chondroprotection – Viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid.
- Biological treatment – PRP, fibrin
- Abrasion, microfracture, – drilling of cartilaginous surfaces or of the subchondral bone layer
- Restoration of defects – polyethylene/titanium (biopolymers), carbon fibers, collagen nets,
- Autogenous cartilage and bone grafts.
- Periosteum/chondral grafts
- Implantation of autologous chondrocyte implants.
We encourage you to learn more about the treatment of chondromalacia of the patella offered by our clinic in Krakow.
