open access

Vol 80, No 3 (2021)
Case report
Submitted: 2020-05-06
Accepted: 2020-07-28
Published online: 2020-08-07
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Bilateral double-layered patella in a patient with advanced knee osteoarthritis

P. Przybylski1, M. Skoczyński1, P. Tarkowski1, M. Tarczyńska2, K. Gawęda2, A. Drop1
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Pubmed: 32789844
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Folia Morphol 2021;80(3):735-738.
Affiliations
  1. 1st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland, Poland
  2. Department and Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland

open access

Vol 80, No 3 (2021)
CASE REPORTS
Submitted: 2020-05-06
Accepted: 2020-07-28
Published online: 2020-08-07

Abstract

Double layered patella (DLP) is a rare anomaly of the patella that may go undiagnosed, especially in patients with progressive knee dysfunction and early degenerative changes. Clinical symptoms such as motion-dependent pain and anterior knee pain most typically occur in adolescents or young adults; however, gradually increasing pain and early generalised degenerative changes have also been seen in patients over 40 years old. Diagnosis of DLP could be difficult, especially in cases with coexisting arthrosis. DLP is considered to be pathognomonic for the diagnosis of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia and usually coexists with other anomalies seen in this syndrome, such as hip dysplasia. In extremely rare cases, DLP can occur as a solitary disorder. The prevalence of such cases, however, is unknown, and they could be easily misdiagnosed. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the most sensitive radiological methods used in DLP diagnosis. This case report presents a case of a bilateral DLP incidentally found in a 47-year-old patient with advanced arthritis referred for arthroplasty because of increasing symptoms of knee joint failure with no other abnormalities recorded. An important goal of our case study is to raise the awareness of this abnormality with radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons.

Abstract

Double layered patella (DLP) is a rare anomaly of the patella that may go undiagnosed, especially in patients with progressive knee dysfunction and early degenerative changes. Clinical symptoms such as motion-dependent pain and anterior knee pain most typically occur in adolescents or young adults; however, gradually increasing pain and early generalised degenerative changes have also been seen in patients over 40 years old. Diagnosis of DLP could be difficult, especially in cases with coexisting arthrosis. DLP is considered to be pathognomonic for the diagnosis of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia and usually coexists with other anomalies seen in this syndrome, such as hip dysplasia. In extremely rare cases, DLP can occur as a solitary disorder. The prevalence of such cases, however, is unknown, and they could be easily misdiagnosed. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the most sensitive radiological methods used in DLP diagnosis. This case report presents a case of a bilateral DLP incidentally found in a 47-year-old patient with advanced arthritis referred for arthroplasty because of increasing symptoms of knee joint failure with no other abnormalities recorded. An important goal of our case study is to raise the awareness of this abnormality with radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons.

Get Citation

Keywords

bilateral double-layered patella, osteoarthritis

About this article
Title

Bilateral double-layered patella in a patient with advanced knee osteoarthritis

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 80, No 3 (2021)

Article type

Case report

Pages

735-738

Published online

2020-08-07

Page views

9786

Article views/downloads

981

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2020.0089

Pubmed

32789844

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2021;80(3):735-738.

Keywords

bilateral double-layered patella
osteoarthritis

Authors

P. Przybylski
M. Skoczyński
P. Tarkowski
M. Tarczyńska
K. Gawęda
A. Drop

References (12)
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  9. Oohashi Y, Koshino T, Oohashi Y. Clinical features and classification of bipartite or tripartite patella. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2010; 18(11): 1465–1469.
  10. Sayilir S, Ekiz T. Early osteoarthritis and double-layered patella in a patient with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. Arch Rheumatol. 2017; 32(3): 260–263.
  11. Smillie IS. Injuries of extensor apparatus. In: Injuries of the Knee Joint. 3rd Ed. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD 1962: 272–277.
  12. Weckström M, Parviainen M, Pihlajamäki HK. Excision of painful bipartite patella: good long-term outcome in young adults. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008; 466(11): 2848–2855.

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