[Chondropathia patellae--preoperative and postoperative demonstration of the patellar structure in plain roentgenography (author's transl)].

The study is based on 86 patients surgically treated for chondromalacia patellae, who in a 2 year follow-up were controlled by défilé-radiographs and clinical examination. While there was an improvement of all clinical symptoms examined, no significant change in the radiologic appearance of the patellar structure was observed as compared with the pre-operative status. This includes that neither significant changes indicating development of arthrosis nor aggravation of pre-existing arthrotic lesions could be found. However, it is commonly suggested from roentgenographic findings with type 3 lesions, that severe chondromalacia patellae may be precursor of osteoarthrosis.