Presentation
Chronic knee pain.
Patient Data
The fat below the caudal margin of the patella shows an abnormal increased signal, associated with moderate patella alta.
The fat below the caudal margin of the patella shows an abnormal increased signal (arrows), associated with moderate patella alta.
Case Discussion
Hoffa fat pad impingement syndrome occurs secondary to patellar maltracking or imbalance of the forces between medial and lateral vastus muscles causing impingement of the superolateral aspect of Hoffa fat pad between the inferior patella and the lateral femoral condyle.
Radiological findings include focal area of high T2 signal (edema) at the inferolateral aspect of the patellofemoral joint, within the superolateral portion of the infrapatellar fat pad. Associated findings include lateral patellar subluxation and patella alta.