Kneecap Problems
If you feel pain in the frontal part of the knee, your doctor will probably rule out various kneecap problems. You may have torn or dislocated your kneecap. This injury can be caused by a fall, a car accident, or a sports injury.
The kneecap is a small rounded piece of cartilage in the front of the knee that helps to cushion the knee joint. It is located on the upper part of the femur (thigh bone). It helps to stabilize the knee joint and prevent injury to the knee joint. One of these can happen as a result to direct trauma to your patella:
- Fractured patella: It occurs when the kneecap gets broken. It is similar to a fracture in the bone tissue and causes almost the same type of pain.
- Dislocated kneecap: It means your kneecap has been forced out of place, usually due to high-energy trauma. A dislocated kneecap can be visible on simple inspection because the affected knee looks deformed compared to the healthy knee.
- Patella tendonitis: This is a condition where you have inflammation in the patellar tendon, which is the tendon that connects your kneecap to your thigh. This inflammatory condition is triggered by overuse and rubbing of the tissues, usually after playing sports.