[Operative treatment of chondromalacia patellae (author's transl)]

Operative treatment of chondromalacia patella should be indicated especially in adolescents with great care. It can be clearly identified by a narrowing of the cartilage on the X-ray (tangential picture of the femoropatellar joint) and the presence of osteophytes on the margin of the joint. The following methods of operative treatment are recommended: Proximal decompressive operation by splitting the lateral retinaculum in light cases and the elevation of the tuberositas tibiae for severe chondromalacia and femoropatellar arthrosis. Follow-up examinations and the results are presented.