-A painful impairment of knee function resulting from thickened and inflamed synovial folds
Plicae are embryologic remnant inward folds of the synovial lining present in most knees
Most plica are asymptomatic
A pathological synovial plica can become inelastic, thickened and fibrotic. It may bowstring across the femoral trochlea at 70 to 100 degrees of knee flexion
Can be a cause of anterior knee pain/mechanical Sxs
Medial patellar plica most commonly involved
Hx: Snapping sensation, pain w/ sitting or repetitive activity
Anterior knee pain, clicking, clunking, and a popping sensation on knee loading activity such as squatting/stairs or with prolonged sitting
Many present with history of blunt trauma to the anterior knee
PE: A taut band of tissue that reproduces concordant pain with palpation
Tenderness in the medial parapatellar region
Painful, palpable medial parapatellar cord
-This can be rolled and popped beneath the examiners finger
The knee may be tender to the touch, swollen, and stiff
Can be difficult to distinguish from other intra-articular conditions such as meniscal tears, articular cartilage injuries, or osteochondral lesions,
The examiner can then palpate for the plica by rolling one finger over the plica fold, which is located around the joint lines in anterior knee compartment
