Recent trends in the management of anterior knee pain

Abstract

Background: Anterior knee pain (AKP) syndrome is one of the most common conditions that prompt active young individuals to seek evaluation at sports injury clinics. Compared to the general population, patients with AKP appear to be at a higher risk of developing patellofemoral osteoarthritis. AKP can be detrimental to the affected patient’s quality of life and, in the larger context, it could markedly burden the economy with high healthcare costs. This opinion aims to present a comprehensive evaluation of AKP to improve its management in clinical practice.Current Concepts: AKP has a multifactorial etiology. It can be attributed not only to structures within and around the knee but also to external factors, such as limb malalignment, weakness of specific hip muscle groups, and core and ligamentous laxity. Hence, AKP warrants a detailed evaluation of patient’s medical history and a thorough clinical examination complemented by relevant radiological investigations to identify its origin in the knee and the underlying cause. Conservative management yields favorable outcomes in the majority of patients with AKP, whereas surgical management becomes necessary only when well-characterized structural abnormalities of the knee or limb correlate with the clinical presentation of AKP or when conservative measures fail to provide substantial and sustained symptoms relief.Discussion and Conclusion: The treatment strategy for AKP should be individualized based on the patient’s profile and the specific cause identified. Therefore, the management of AKP requires a focused evaluation of the patient’s medical history, clinical examination, and radiological investigations to identify the condition’s origin and underlying cause.