| Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Hoffa's disease |
 | |
| Cross section of the human knee | |
| Specialty | Orthopedics, sports medicine |
| Symptoms | Pain in the front of the knee |
| Causes | Trauma, surgery |
| Differential diagnosis | Patellar tendinopathy, infrapatellar bursitis |
| Treatment | Steroid injections, physical therapy, surgery |
| Frequency | Relatively common (athletes) |
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. Pain is generally just below the kneecap. Symptoms may worsen if the knee is overly straightened or bent for too long a period. Complications may include an inability to fully straighten the knee.
The underlying mechanism may involve bleeding, inflammation, or insufficient space for the fat pad. This may occur as a result of trauma or surgery to the knee. Diagnosis may be supported by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment is generally by steroid injections and physical therapy. If this is not effective surgery removal may be tried. While overall it is an uncommon condition, it is relatively common in athletes.
Treatment
Treatment is generally by steroid injections and physical therapy. If this is not effective surgery removal may be tried. High quality evidence for surgery is lacking as of 2015.
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.