Assessment of patellar alignment in normal subject

ABSTRACT

Patellar malalignment problems have long been recognized as a cause of dysfunction at the knee. The patellar malalignment syndrome is a condition that presents with clinical symptoms such as popping, giving way, effusion, buckling, weakness, patellar subluxation, and pain with certain activities. Realignment of the patella through conservative technique has become the main emphasis of treatment. Due to this emphasis on patellar realignment, a need for a quantitative measurement of patellar orientation has developed. The purpose of this study is to assess the normal patellar position by measuring the Q-angle, patellar height and patellofemoral congruence, using an X-ray techniques which was implemented for this purpose, and to compare these parameters in patients with patellofemoral joint dysfunction