J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2001 Apr;36(2):155-160.

Diagnosis and Arthroscopic Treatment of Symptomatic Medial Patellar Plica Syndrome of the Knee

• Hwang SH
• Hong WC
• Choi IS
• Roh SI
• Chung HT

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of physical examination and dynamic arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of medial patellar plica syndrome which is likely to be overlooked.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
23 cases diagnosed as medial patellar plica syndrome from August 1998 through December 1999 were evaluated. Diagnosis was made by a symptom of a pain and a click sound during knee flexion, a physical examination of mass palpation and dynamic arthroscopy. RESULT: A dynamic rotation test was an useful physical examination having 96% rate of sensitivity. The results of excellent and good cases were in 19 cases (83%) and there was no worsened case symptomatically after arthroscopic resection. Postoperative complications were 3 cases including incomplete excision (1 case), postoperative hemarthrosis (1 case) and medial meniscus instability due to incorrect arthroscopic technique (1 case). In patients younger than 30 year old, the result of arthroscopic excision was better than that in older ones.
CONCLUSION
Careful physical examination with dynamic arthroscopy is a useful method to diagnose the medial patellar plica syndrome which is likely to be overlooked, and arthroscopic complete excision result in excellent results which is of benefit to fast rehabilitation.

Keyword

Knee; Medial patellar plica syndrome; Dynamic rotation test; Dynamic arthroscopy; Arthroscopic complete excision

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arthroscopy
Diagnosis*
Hemarthrosis
Humans
Knee*
Menisci, Tibial
Palpation
Physical Examination
Postoperative Complications
Rehabilitation