DESCRIPTION
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
PT IMPLICATIONS
(click here to see references)
- Inflammation or fibrotic thickening of plica (synovial fold) in the knee.
- Several plicae can be found in the knee
- Superior
- Medial
- Lateral
- Inferior
- The most clinically relevant and most commonly involved structure is the medial plica.
- Found under the medial retinaculum, runs parallel to the medial patella, and inserts distally onto the infrapatellar fat pad.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
- Found most frequently in teenagers, when meniscal and ligamentous injuries are still rare.
- No specific mechanism of injury
- Episodic
- Painful clicking or popping
- May have feeling of giving away
- Symptoms worse with sustained flexion
- Symptoms better with activity
- Palpable band over the medial femoral condyle with tenderness on palpation
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
- MRI
- Dynamic sonography
- Good sensitivity and specificity
- Palpation
- Tenderness medial to the patella over the medial femoral condyle
PT IMPLICATIONS
- Stretching
- Quadriceps
- Hamstrings
- Plantar flexors
- Strengthening of lower extremity
- Modalities to reduce pain (ice and ultrasound) as needed
- Patellar bracing
- Anti-inflammatories
(click here to see references)