Chondromalacia patella by definition means
cartilage degeneration under the patella. It would make
sense that patients whose pain is caused by
cartilage
degeneration need
regeneration, not further
degeneration.
This may seem obvious to you, but I come across many
arthroscopy reports where the primary reason the patient
had
arthroscopy
was to smooth out the cartilage.
This so-called “clean up arthroscopy,” simply put, does not
work! It does not provide long lasting relief and many
studies have shown that it actually does no better than
either doing nothing or just conservative therapy.1-4
What is a person supposed to do who has cartilage
deterioration (chondromalacia) under the patella (thus
chondromalacia patella)?
One such Caring Medical patient with severe (stage 4, bone
on bone) chondromalacia patella came to see me after his
arthroscopy “to smooth out the cartilage” did not eliminate
his pain. You may be raising an eyebrow here, but
seriously, don’t blame me. Take a look at the report below:
Preoperative Diagnosis:
chondromalacia of patella, right knee.
Postoperative Diagnosis:
chondromalacia of patella with chondromalacia of femoral
condyle.
Operation:
Technique:
with the patient asleep under tourniquet control, a 4-inch,
curved, medial parapatellar incision was made and the
patella was turned on its side. As soon as this was done,
the entire lateral surface of the patella was seen to have
chondromalacia, but more important the femoral condyle was
eroded down to bone in several places. All of this erosion
was over the lateral femoral condyle. This was shaved
down to smooth the cartilage, using a #94 Beaver
chondroplastic blade. The undersurface of the patella was
also smoothed down, using a #94 Beaver chondroplastic blade.
The area that was on the femoral condyle was approximately
an inch and a half wide and a quarter of an inch in width
that had to be removed. The knee was then flushed with
sterile saline and small chips were removed from the joint.
The synovium was then closed with DO plain, the capsule with
O Vicryl and the skin with interrupted stainless steel
staples. A pressure dressing was applied and the patient
left the operating room in excellent condition.
As you can see, the report says, “This was shaved down to
smooth the cartilage.” After the arthroscopy, this patient
suffered with knee pain for 26 years. Yes, 26 years! This op
report was from 1978 and the patient originally came to see
me six years ago. Yes, 26 years of pain! Do you know what
this person does now? After receiving
Prolotherapy, he is
now able to function as he was hoping to function after the
original surgery. His knee allows him to squat, run, lift
weights, bicycle, and do everything he wants to do. One day
he told me with tears in his eyes, “Doc, I can’t believe I
can do squats now, thank you!” For this patient, exercise
was his main form of stress relief for a very stressful job
and not being able to do it was stressing him out. We thank
you, the patient! It is only because people are
willing press on and not give in to the pain that the word
gets out that
Prolotherapy is the best
alternative treatment
option for chondromalacia patella!
