U. Schneider et al., PATELLA HYPERTENSION SYNDROME - DEFINITIO N, DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT, Zeitschrift fur Orthopadie und Ihre Grenzgebiete, 135(1), 1997, pp. 70-75
Purpose: Complaints in the area of the patella have been abundantly de
scribed in the literature. However, a uniform nomenclature with regard
to either diagnosis or therapy does not exist. Methods: With the help
of a standardized measuring method (intrapatellar pressure measuremen
t and provocation test), it is possible to describe and classify patel
lar pain. An intrapatellar pressure increase over 25 mmHg and/or a pos
itive provocation test defines the term of Patella Hypertension Syndro
me. Results: Within a prospective study we carried out a special intra
osseous drilling in 20 cases with the typical symptoms of the Patella
Hypertension Syndrome. The drilling, which was carried out via the Hof
fa fat body from distal, resulted in a distinct alleviation of symptom
s in all cases and even in a complete absence of pain in most cases. T
his phenomenon was objectified by a pressure-check-up after 6 weeks, 6
months and 1 year following the drilling. In all 20 cases so far exam
ined a decrease of between 40-70% of the original pressure level was a
chieved. In all cases the postoperative artificial pressure increase (
provocation test) of the intraosseous pressure did not lead to the typ
ical pain symptoms. Conclusion: We therefore have a relatively minor o
peration at our diposal enabling us to achieve an impressive therapeut
ical success, in cases where conventional treatment was neither causal
nor successful.