[Chondropathy of the patella. Clinico-radiologic study].

Totally 165 cases of chondromalacia patellae, taken from a series of 240 patients, are presented. The cause of the chondromalacia lies in imbalances, displacements, dysplasias of patellae and in femoro-tibial axial deviations. Overload is the constant intermediary between the different starting causes and the same final result. The precocity of the clinical-radiological diagnosis is essential for the timely carrying out of a corrective surgery, directed to remove the starting causes before the reversible chondromalacia develops into irreversible arthrosis.