[Intramedullary patella pressure measurement dependent on the functional position of the knee joint].

Degenerative alterations of the patello-femoral joint are often painful and cause an increase of intramedullary pressure. The intraspongious pressure of the patella is measured with a cannula after lateral drilling. Patients with chondromalacia or osteoarthrosis have an increased intramedullary pressure compared with normal patients. The degree of flexion of the knee-joint correlates with the intramedullary pressure. More flexion causes an increase of pressure as well in normal patella as in chondromalacia or in osteoarthrosis.