Disorders of the Patellofemoral Joint, 2d ed.

Disorders of the Patellofemoral Joint, 2nd ed

By Fulkerson JP, Hungerford DS. Baltimore, MD 21202, Williams & Wilkins, 1990, hardback, 294 pp, illus, $65

Anterior knee pain is often dismissed too quickly as being chondromalacia patella. In fact, chondromalacia patella correctly describes only a morphologic softening of the patellar articular cartilage, not anterior knee pain associated with joint noise or crepitus. This handsome text fully explores the patellofemoral joint, and, as purported in its preface, has as its primary goal "to emphasize accurate decision making before any treatment for a patellofemoral disorder."

To achieve this stated goal, the text includes 11 chapters. One chapter is devoted to normal anatomy, one to biomechanics, one to imaging, and another to evaluation and rehabilitation of nonarthritic anterior knee pain. Seven chapters are concerned with a variety of patellofemoral pathologies.

The chapters are complete, well illustrated, amply supported by up-to-date references, and enjoyable to read. Though its order of presentation ensures that the reader is thoroughly familiar with the normal patellofemoral joint before addressing abnormal conditions, each chapter is fully understandable if read randomly. The chapter on biomechanics is particularly well presented and clear, enabling the reader to apply this information in the clinic.

The illustrations are noteworthy. They are clear and abundant and support the immediate text. In most cases, they are adjacent to the copy of the text and can be clearly viewed without turning the page. Unfortunately, as seems to be the case in many orthopedic texts, the sections concerned with physical therapy and rehabilitation are woefully superficial and incomplete. Orthopedic physical therapy clinicians will have to seek a companion text on clinical application to make their education on rehabilitation of patients with anterior knee pain complete. Nevertheless, I recommend this book as one of the definitive works on the patellofemoral joint.

Mitchell Tannenbaum, PT Downers Grove, Ill