The synovial plicae of knee are a remnants of synovial folds during the coalesence of three compartments of knee at the third months of fetal status. The plicae is present in 20-55% of the knee joints and could be changed into the pathologic
plica
which
had been converted into fibrotic status by trauma and exercise. The pathologic synovial plicae result in the chondromalacia of patella and femoral condyle as well as disability of knee function.
We have analysed the 24 cases of plica syndrome of knee using arthroscope between 1993. April and 1995. Jan.
@ES the results were as follows:
@EN 1. The most of patients were young, active males (2nd and 3rd decade) whose average age was 23.6 years. They had the history of trauma (60%) such as direct blunt hitting, tisting and trenous exercise.
2. The physical examination revealed snapping, swelling, positive McMurray test, instability and pseudoloking. The patients complained joint line pain, infra and parapatellar pain, and pain around medial femoral condyle.
3. The composition of pathologic plicae showed 7 cases of medial patellar plica (MP), 7 cases of perforate or obliterate suprapatellar plica (SP) and 10 cases of combined plica (MP+SP).
4. The chondromalacia of articular cartilage of the patella and femoral condyle was visible in 83 percent. The chondromalacia of patella(65%) was more visible(2 times) than femoral side(35%).
5. The clinical results after arthroscopic plica excision was mostly improved than before operation about 75 percent of the patiens(18 cases) but in the remaining 25 percent (6 cases), the pain was not improved.
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