Infrapatellar Plica as a cause of Anterior Knee Pain

1066 Despite the prevalence of anterior knee pain in sports medicine, the etiology of many cases remains unclear with resultant long-term pain and limited function. While the medial plica is a well document source of knee pain, the infrapatellar plica has yet to be implicated as a source of knee pain. When inflamed, fibrotic, or torn, the infrapatellar plica has the potential to cause anterior knee pain. PURPOSE: To determine if isolated resection of the infrapatellar plica in a select group of individuals improves anterior knee pain. METHODS: A restrospective case series analysis involving twelve cases of isolated infrapatellar plica resection in patients with anterior knee pain was performed. Charts were reviewed to assess mechanism of injury, clinical symptoms, and physical exam findings. Telephone interview was used to evaluate each patient. A standardized and validated outcome meansure, The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), was used to assess post-surgical outcome. RESULTS: Ninty-one percent (11 of 12) of patients reported excellent or good results using a subjective knee scale at follow-up. The KOOS outcome scoring of knee function demonstrated average scores of 97, 96, 99, 99, and 87 for pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, sports activity and quality of life, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Review of these cases demonstrates the potential role of the infrapatellar plica, when abnormal, in causing symptoms consistent with anterior knee pain. Future randomized, prospective studies addressing the role of the infrapatellar plica in causing knee pain are thus warrented.