Information for the public
The condition
The condition
In this condition the kneecap (patella) is not secure in its normal position and can slip sideways as the knee bends, causing pain and discomfort. In some people this is because the groove at the end of the thigh bone (the trochlea), which the kneecap slides up and down in, is too shallow or uneven. The medical name for this is trochlear dysplasia.
The condition can be treated using physiotherapy and exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee. Surgery to deepen the groove is another option – this is called trochleoplasty. It is usually done using open surgery, which has risks such as scarring and infection.
NICE has looked at using arthroscopic trochleoplasty as another treatment option. Click on to the next page to find out more.