Patellofemoral injuries and conditions like “runner’s knee” and dislocations can affect anyone and cause debilitating pain or instability of the kneecap (patella) without proper treatment.
The physicians at the Patellofemoral Center at HSS specialize in the management of kneecap pain and deterioration, as well as the surgical interventions that can help you heal and regain mobility. Using the latest technology and increasingly less invasive methods, our specialists offer their many years of experience diagnosing and treating patients to provide optimal care for your specific needs.
Learn about the various conditions and treatments that affect the patellofemoral joint.
Patellofemoral disorders, also known as kneecap disorders, refer to pain and instability issues arising from a variety of sources in the patellofemoral joint. Some common examples include anterior knee pain, osteoarthritis and recurrent dislocations or subluxations. These disorders are multifactorial in etiology and can greatly inhibit patients from maintaining their active lifestyles. Furthermore, these conditions affect patients of a wide range of ages and activity, although this population is predominantly female. Patients, physicians and physical therapists find the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions extremely challenging. Currently, patients with anterior knee pain, instability and arthritis have great difficulty understanding their problem and finding the correct clinician to treat their pathology. Many orthopaedic caregivers see these conditions frequently in their offices, though treatment is extremely variable.
Our group addresses the current lack of formalized research into patellofemoral disorders, treatments and outcomes. Our Patellofemoral Center focuses on clinical outcome studies in order to evaluate current surgical techniques as well as develop new ones and improve patient outcomes. The Center has taken a comprehensive approach to investigating patient outcomes in a variety of patellofemoral disorders and treatment procedures. By utilizing a combination of prospective, retrospective, and biomechanical projects our group assesses the efficacy of current procedures and improves upon them to develop even better treatment options. The Patellofemoral Center is also focused on conducting collaborative research efforts with other institutions in the form of multi-center studies in order to maximize the quality and power of the patellofemoral patient data available. The comprehensive research efforts of the Patellofemoral Center play a critical role in improving the quality of life of the many patients suffering from knee pain and instability.
The specific areas of investigation include:
Support for our center helps us carry out our research program. Specific areas that can be supported include:
