 On occasions, arthritis
can develop under the knee cap causing severe pain in the
front of the knee only. The rest
of the knee, that is the femoro-tibial joint is not affected
by the degenerative process. This is thought to be due to an
imbalance of the ligaments and tendons around the knee.
It is called ELPS (Excessive Lateral
Pressure Syndrome).
The patella therefore tracts on the
knee unevenly with a greater force on the outside of the
knee (red arrow) than the inside (purple
arrow). This results in excessive wear of the cartilage
underlying the outside of the patella.
It can result in disabling symptoms
due to the advanced arthritis, at a relatively early age, as
young as late thirties, early forties.
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