Do you have pain in the front or sides of the kneecap? This is called anterior knee pain, and it is a common condition that can impact individuals of all ages and genders. There are several common knee conditions that can cause anterior knee pain and they usually involve the patella (kneecap) and its connecting tendons. Dr. Fredrick Buechel, Jr., M.D. at Robotic Joint Center, can evaluate your anterior knee pain, provide you with the correct diagnosis, and recommend the appropriate treatment options available to you. If your anterior knee pain is due to isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis, Dr. Buechel is an expert in Patellofemoral Partial Knee Replacement using the Mako Robotic Partial Knee Replacement system.

Causes and Symptoms of Anterior Knee Pain

Anterior knee pain is located on the front of the knee surrounding the kneecap. Commonly symptoms occur and worsen when going up or down stairs, running or jumping, and rising and sitting. Overuse and excessive stresses to the front of the knee called the extensor mechanism can result in anterior knee pain. The extensor mechanism consists of the quadriceps muscles, quadriceps tendon, the patella, and the patella tendon.

Anterior knee pain can be accompanied by grinding or crunching in the front of the knee under the kneecap when extending or flexing the knee. This can be the result of arthritic changes to the cartilage surfaces of the patellofemoral joint which is located under the kneecap and rubs against the front of the femur (thigh bone).

Some of the conditions that can cause anterior knee pain include:

• Patellofemoral osteoarthritis
• Post-Traumatic arthritis (from a prior fracture of the kneecap)
• Post-Traumatic arthritis (from a prior dislocation of the kneecap)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Chondromalacia patella (runner’s knee)
• Quadriceps tendonitis
• Patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee)
• Patella mal-tracking

Treatment Of Anterior Knee Pain

Treatment and pain relief depend on the cause of anterior knee pain. For some conditions non-surgical treatments can offer relief and improve knee function. Other conditions require surgery to properly treat the pain.

If your condition requires a joint replacement option to treat your anterior knee pain, Dr. Buechel is a world renown expert in the surgical treatment of arthritis with Patellofemoral Partial Knee Replacement and Total Knee Replacement using the precision Mako Robotic Knee Replacement System.

Contact us at Robotic Joint Center to have Dr. Buechel provide you with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for your anterior knee pain.