Skip to main content
Log in

Short- and mid-term results of plica excision in patients with mediopatellar plica and associated cartilage degeneration

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the short- and mid-term results of plica excision in patients with mediopatellar plica and associated cartilage degeneration. Seventy-six surgically treated patients with mediopatellar plica and associated cartilage degeneration at medial femoral condyle (MFC) and/or medial pole of patella were included. Patients were evaluated at baseline, at 6 weeks and 6 months after the operation for their clinical outcomes and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. The frequency of all signs and symptoms, including all pain parameters, and WOMAC scores were significantly improved compared to baseline, at 6 weeks and 6 months after the operation (P < 0.017). Based on mean WOMAC scores, results of most patients were rated as excellent both at 6 weeks (88%) and at 6 months (94%). Surgical excision of mediopatellar plica associated with cartilage degeneration appears to result in substantial clinical improvement, thus it represents an effective treatment modality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aglietti P, Buzzi R, Insall JN (2001) Disorders of the patellofemoral joint. In: Insall JN, Scott WN (eds) Surgery of the knee. Churchill Livingstone, Pennsylvania, pp 913–1043

    Google Scholar 

  2. Akyildiz FF, Urguden M, Ozdemir H, Gur S, Altinel E (1996) Arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic mediopatellar plica lesions: medium-term follow-up. Acta Ortoph Traumatol Turc 30:523–525

    Google Scholar 

  3. Alturfan A, Pinar H, Taser O, Gogus A (1991) Arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of mediopatellar plica syndrome of the knee. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 25:294–298

    Google Scholar 

  4. Barry BP (2003) Arthroscopy of lower extremity. In: Canale ST (ed) Campbel’s operative orthopaedics. Mosby, Pennsylvania, pp 2515–2612

    Google Scholar 

  5. Broom MJ, Fulkerson JP (1986) The plica syndrome: a new perspective. Orthop Clin North Am 17:279–281

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Christoforakis JJ, Sanchez-Ballester J, Hunt N, Thomas R, Strachan RK (2006) Synovial shelves of the knee: association with chondral lesions. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 14:1292–1298

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Christoforakis JJ, Strachan RK (2005) Internal derangements of the knee associated with patellofemoral joint degeneration. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 13:581–584

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dandy DJ (1990) Anatomy of the medial suprapatellar plica and medial synovial shelf. Arthroscopy 6:79–85

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dorchak JD, Barrack RL, Kneisl JS, Alexander AH (1991) Arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic synovial plica of the knee. Long-term followup. Am J Sports Med 19:503–507

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hardaker WT, Whipple TL, Bassett FH 3rd (1980) Diagnosis and treatment of the plica syndrome of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 62:221–225

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jackson RW, Marshall DJ, Fujisawa Y (1982) The pathologic medical shelf. Orthop Clin North Am 13:307–312

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Johnson DP, Eastwood DM, Witherow PJ (1993) Symptomatic synovial plicae of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 75:1485–1496

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kim SJ, Choe WS (1997) Arthroscopic findings of the synovial plicae of the knee. Arthroscopy 13:33–41

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kinnard P, Levesque RY (1984) The plica syndrome. A syndrome of controversy. Clin Orthop Relat Res 183:141–143

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lyu SR, Hsu CC (2006) Medial plicae and degeneration of the medial femoral condyle. Arthroscopy 22:17–26

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Munzinger U, Ruckstuhl J, Scherrer H, Gschwend N (1981) Internal derangement of the knee joint due to pathologic synovial folds: the mediopatellar plica syndrome. Clin Orthop Relat Res 155:59–64

    Google Scholar 

  17. Patel D (1986) Plica as a cause of anterior knee pain. Orthop Clin North Am 17:273–277

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Richmond JC, McGinty JB (1983) Segmental arthroscopic resection of the hypertrophic mediopatellar plica. Clin Orthop Relat Res 178:185–189

    Google Scholar 

  19. Schindler OS (2004) Synovial plicae of the knee. Curr Orthop 18:210–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Schulitz KP, Hille E, Kochs W (1983) The importance of the mediopatellar synovial plica for chondromalacia patellae. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 102:37–44

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Tindel NL, Nisonson B (1992) The plica syndrome. Orthop Clin North Am 23:613–618

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Vaughan-Lane T, Dandy DJ (1982) The synovial shelf syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Br 64:475–476

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Yilmaz C, Golpinar A, Vurucu A, Ozturk H, Eskandari MM (2005) Retinacular band excision improves outcome in treatment of plica syndrome. Int Orthop 29:291–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ahmet Guney.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guney, A., Bilal, O., Oner, M. et al. Short- and mid-term results of plica excision in patients with mediopatellar plica and associated cartilage degeneration. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18, 1526–1531 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1125-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1125-1

Keywords

Navigation