Medial patellar plica

Last revised by Ayla Al Kabbani on 27 Jul 2022

The medial patellar plica is one of the synovial plicae of the knee.

It is a fold of synovium and thought to represent embryologic remnants. It is considered the most symptomatic of all plicae.

The Sakakibara arthroscopic classification scheme is one used for the classification of medial patellar plicae:

  • type A: consists of a cordlike elevation in the synovial wall
  • type B: has a shelflike appearance but does not cover the anterior surface of the medial femoral condyle
  • type C: large with a shelflike appearance and covers the anterior surface of the medial femoral condyle
  • type D: plica has a central defect (fenestrated plica)
  • T2/PD: perhaps best seen on an axial image of an arthrographic study as a small band extending from the medial aspect of the knee joint

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