Background:

Patellofemoral osteoarthritis affects a great number of patients complaining chiefly of knee pain, treatment vary from conservative to surgical, especially arthroscopy.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to show the behavior of a group of patients with patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

Material and methods:

A descriptive and transversal study with a level of evidence IV and recommendation grade C in the provincial teaching hospital Manuel Ascunce Domenech in Camaguey city from January 2015 to April 2017 was performed in 96 patients with the diagnosis of patellofemoral osteoarthritis, but 77 of them were selected as a non-probabilistic sample, based on selected criteria.

Results:

Mean age was 52.2 years. Female sex, right patella and primary etiology prevailed. Rest pain was the most common symptom. There is a strong correlation between Iwano T and Outerbridge RE classifications systems. In general, more than one compartment of the knee is affected in patellofemoral osteoarthritis, isolated presentation is rare and treatment by arthroscopy is of great help.

Conclusions:

Patellofemoral osteoarthritis is a common disease, patients usually complain of a great number of symptoms and signs. Patellofemoral osteoarthritis is usually associated to affection of other compartments and patients may be treated by arthroscopy.