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Knee Arthroscopy pp 113–127Cite as

Patellofemoral Disorders

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Patients presenting with patellofemoral pain represent a challenging population in any orthopaedic practice. Most patients can be successfully managed with a systematic nonoperative program. Patient selection is the key to achieving successful surgical outcomes. A thorough understanding of patellofemoral anatomy coupled with a complete patient history and physical will increase the chances of success with arthroscopic intervention. A variety of pathologic conditions exist in the patellofemoral joint, including cartilage disease, malalignment, instability, arthritis, and soft tissue disorders. Arthroscopy may be the first line of surgical treatment for a complicated problem or the definitive solution to a complex issue. A clear preoperative understanding of the potential pathology that might be encountered at the time of arthroscopy will assist in correctly applying one of several arthroscopic surgical procedures.

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  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    Jeffrey T. Spang

  2. Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, University of Connecticut Medical School, Farmington, CT

    John P. Fulkerson MD (Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery)

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    Spang, J.T., Fulkerson, J.P. (2009). Patellofemoral Disorders. In: Richmond, J., Bono, J., McKeon, B. (eds) Knee Arthroscopy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89504-8_7

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