A very common presenting problem is pain at the front of the knee emanating from the joint between the kneecap and the femur (patello-femoral joint).

The exact cause of this pain remains not entirely clear, but the condition has in the past been called chondromalacia patellae and may also be called anterior knee pain. It may develop as an attrition type problem or be the result of an injury such as a direct blow to the kneecap or patella.

Often it will present with pain, which is at the front of the knee and feels as it is behind the patella. It may be worse with stair climbing and sitting with the knee in a bent position. It may also be associated with catching or clicking of the joint and occasionally swelling.

This condition can often be mistaken for other conditions within the knee joint and a careful assessment is usually required. In many cases further investigation in the form of an MRI scan will help exclude any alternative causes for the presenting symptoms.