My doctor says I have chondromalacia patella. What does he mean?
A. This term is used interchangeable with patellar pain or symptoms referable to the knee cap. In fact, it is in its strictest sense a surgical diagnosis referring to softening or degeneration of the joint surface (articular cartilage). It is one thing if your doctor says after an office exam that you have chondromalacia patella; it is another thing if he has arthroscoped your knee and noted chondromalacia at the time of your surgical procedure. Chondromalacia has a spectrum of softening. We grade it as 0 (normal), 1 (softening, blistering), 2 (linear fissures or cracks), 3 (shag rug or crabmeat appearance), and 4 (exposed bone). The degree of chondromalacia can only be determined surgically.
