[Anterior knee pain in the absence of patellofemoral instability]

A wide range of disorders other than patellofemoral instability may be responsible for anterior knee pain and should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis in children and adolescents. The role of overuse and repetitive trauma is of utmost importance in these disorders. Moreover, systemic or local malignancies, referred pain especially from the hip, and psychiatric features specific to this age group should always be kept in mind. This article revisits anterior knee pain in the absence of patellofemoral instability with regard to etiology, examination methods, diagnosis, and treatment in the light of recent data and clinical experience.