This disorder is common and manifests itself as pain in the knee whenever the leg is used and the knee is flexed, and is commonly seen in adolescents. The condition may also feel like a sensation of buckling or giving away of the knee, and is commonly seen in teenage girls. Treatment by the podiatrist include muscle strengthening exercises, which are generally effective. However, some severe cases of Chondromalacia may require surgical correction of the condition. This condition occurs in adolescents when small fragments of bone underlying the articular cartilage of the knee joint lose their blood supply and die, sometimes breaking off into the knee joint.
Treatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms, and generally includes casting.
Surgical removal of bony fragments which have broken loose into the knee joint is sometimes indicated. Popliteal Cysts Popliteal cysts are cysts found commonly in adolescents. They are located just behind the knee joint, and are relatively benign and harmless lesions. Reasons to excise these cysts include pain, limitation of knee motion, cosmetic purposes, increasing size, or concern by the parent or adolescent. This disorder is present at birth but may not manifest until adolescence, when the child becomes more active or involved in sports or other physical activities.