Differential diagnosis for anterior knee pain
Historically there have been many catch-all terms for patients with anterior knee pain, but as research has progressed, the differential diagnosis has become extensive.
| Chondromalacia patellae | Symptomatic plica of the knee |
| Patellar malalignment | Fat pad syndrome (Hoffa’s disease) |
| Patellar tracking abnormality | Bursitis, infrapatellar/prepatellar |
| Tendinitis quadriceps/patellae | Pes anserine bursitis |
| Tight ITB | Retinacular neuroma |
| Meniscal pathology | Tight lateral retinaculum |
| Painful bipartite patella | Postsurgical neuroma |
| Blunt trauma, occult fracture | Referred pain from hip |
| Osteochondritis dissecans (patella) | Radicular pain from lumbosacral spine |
| Sinding–Larsen–Johansson syndrome |
