Synovial plicae of the knee

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Synovial plicae are folds in the knee joint's synovial membrane.
• The suprapatellar plica occurs in about 20% of individuals.
• These folds can become symptomatic, mimicking other knee injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the anatomy, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of synovial plicae.
• To outline diagnostic methods, including radiographic findings.
• To discuss treatment options for symptomatic synovial plicae.

Main Methods:

• Review of anatomical and pathological data.
• Analysis of clinical case presentations.
• Evaluation of diagnostic imaging techniques, specifically double contrast arthrography.

Main Results:

• Suprapatellar plicae can cause symptoms similar to internal knee derangements.
• Double contrast arthrography can detect the presence of plicae.
• Radiographic identification alone is insufficient; clinical correlation is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Synovial plicae are a potential source of knee pain and dysfunction.
• Accurate diagnosis requires integrating imaging results with thorough clinical assessment.
• Treatment strategies should be guided by the correlation of findings and symptoms.