Chondromalacia

Chondromalacia is a degenerative change that occurs in articular cartilage. Chondromalacia patellae is a change in the cartilage (its inner surface), as a result of which a person experiences pain, creaks in the knee joint, and movements become unsteady.

Chondromalacia is a pathological process in which softening and thinning of the articular cartilage occurs. This leads to disruption of the shock-absorbing function of cartilage and the occurrence of pain.

Chondromalacia most often affects the patellar cartilage. The reasons for its development may be injuries, overload of the knee joint, violation of posture and biomechanics of movements.

Diagnosis of chondromalacia includes taking a medical history, examining and palpating the knee joint, and radiography. An MRI or arthroscopy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment of chondromalacia depends on the stage of the disease and includes conservative and surgical methods. Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, and chondroprotectors are used conservatively. If conservative treatment is ineffective, arthroscopic chondroplasty or total knee replacement may be performed.

The prognosis for chondromalacia depends on the timeliness of diagnosis and the adequacy of treatment. With the right approach, it is possible to achieve stable remission and restore the function of the knee joint.

Chondromalacia (from the Greek “chondros” - cartilage and the suffix “malasia”, Latin - ulceration) is called degenerative-dystrophic changes in cartilage, which are most often diagnosed in the human body at an older age. The pathological process is also popularly called destruction