PATELLA HYPERTENSION SYNDROME - DEFINITIO N, DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

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.