Segmental arthroscopic resection of the hypertrophic mediopatellar plica.

In a retrospective review of 64 knees (58 patients) treated during a 36-month period by segmental arthroscopic resection of a hypertrophic mediopatellar plica, each patient was questioned and/or examined a minimum of one year after surgery. Medial or retropatellar pain (95%), buckling (32%), swelling (25%), and snapping (16%) were symptoms associated with a hypertrophic mediopatellar plica. Findings during physical examination of medial and retropatellar tenderness (74%) suggest the presence of the condition. Thirty percent of knees had localized chondromalacia of the medial femoral condyle, while in 13% chondromalacia was localized to the medial patellar facet. Good to excellent results were obtained in 86% of knees with a hypertrophic mediopatellar plica, with or without localized chondromalacia. In patients who had associated conditions, the lesions were also treated arthroscopically; good to excellent results were obtained in 69% of these knees.