Adolescent Knee Flashcards
why are knee extensor mechanism pains common?
during adolescence body weight and sporting activities increase
patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee)?
self-limiting needs rest and possibly physiotherapy
what is anterior knee pain?
patellofemoral dysfunction
common in adolescence
worse in girls
may be due to muscle imbalance, ligamentous laxity and subtle skeletal predisposition
what is chrondromalacia patellae?
softening of the hyaline cartilage - can be seen with patellofemoral dysfunction
what is the treatment for adolescent knee pain?
most self-limiting
physiotherapy to rebalance the muscles
most ‘grow out’ of it
occasionally resistant cases that need surgery to shift the patella (known as tibial tubercle transfer) however results can be unpredictable
meniscal problems in adolescents?
Meniscal tears can occur in children and adolescents with a higher proportion of peripheral or bucket handle meniscal tears which may benefit from meniscal repair.
Moreover young patients have a higher chance of healing with a meniscal repair.
