| Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome | |
| Synonyms: | Hoffa's disease |
| Specialty: | Orthopedics, sports medicine |
| Symptoms: | Pain in the front of the knee |
| Causes: | Trauma, surgery |
| Differential: | Patellar tendinopathy, infrapatellar bursitis |
| Treatment: | Steroid injections, physical therapy, surgery |
| Frequency: | Relatively common (athletes) |
Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome, also known as Hoffa's disease, is when pain in the front of the knee occurs due to problems with the infrapatellar fat pad.[1] Pain is generally just below the kneecap.[1] Symptoms may worsen if the knee is overly straightened or bent for too long a period.[1] Complications may include an inability to fully straighten the knee.[1]
The underlying mechanism may involve bleeding, inflammation, or insufficient space for the fat pad.[1] This may occur as a result of trauma or surgery to the knee.[2] Diagnosis may be supported by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).[1]
Treatment is generally by steroid injections and physical therapy.[1] [2] If this is not effective surgery removal may be tried.[1] While overall it is an uncommon condition,[3] it is relatively common in athletes.[1]
Treatment is generally by steroid injections and physical therapy.[1] [2] If this is not effective surgery removal may be tried.[1] High quality evidence for surgery is lacking as of 2015.[3]