Infrapatellar fat pad

The infrapatellar fat pad (Hoffa's fat pad) is a cylindrical piece of fat that is situated under and behind the patella bone within the knee.[1]

Infrapatellar fat pad
Cross section of the human knee
Details
Identifiers
LatinCorpus adiposum infrapatellare
TA98A03.6.08.018
TA21908
FMA58772
Anatomical terminology

Clinical significance
Main article: Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome

The fat pad is a normal structure but it can sometimes become a problem:

  • It can become damaged and painful
  • It can be deliberately removed at arthroscopic surgery to make it easier for the surgeon to see what they are doing - but this can also lead to scarring and pain.
  • It can become hypertrophic and may become impinged between the patella and the femoral condyle, causing sharp pain when the leg is extended. This is called infrapatellar fat pad syndrome or Hoffa syndrome.
  • It can become involved in the process of arthrofibrosis and become scarred (fibrotic) and contracted, pulling the patella down into an abnormally low position.

References
  1. Dragoo, JL; Johnson, C; McConnell, J (1 January 2012). "Evaluation and treatment of disorders of the infrapatellar fat pad". Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.). 42 (1): 51–67. doi:10.2165/11595680-000000000-00000. PMID 22149697.
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