Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome | |
---|---|
Other names | Hoffa's disease[1] |
Cross section of the human knee | |
Specialty | Orthopedics, sports medicine |
Symptoms | Pain in the front of the knee[2] |
Causes | Trauma, surgery[1] |
Differential diagnosis | Patellar tendinopathy, infrapatellar bursitis[2] |
Treatment | Steroid injections, physical therapy, surgery[2][1] |
Frequency | Relatively common (athletes)[2] |
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.[2] Pain is generally just below the kneecap.[2] Symptoms may worsen if the knee is overly straightened or bent for too long a period.[2] Complications may include an inability to fully straighten the knee.[2]
The underlying mechanism may involve bleeding, inflammation, or insufficient space for the fat pad.[2] This may occur as a result of trauma or surgery to the knee.[1] Diagnosis may be supported by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).[2]
Treatment is generally by steroid injections and physical therapy.[2][1] If this is not effective surgery removal may be tried.[2] While overall it is an uncommon condition,[3] it is relatively common in athletes.[2]