Knee plica problems usually get better without surgery. You’ll need to rest your knee for a while and put ice on it. Your doctor may suggest anti-inflammatory pain medicine, like ibuprofen or naproxen, and stretching your leg muscles, especially your quadriceps and hamstrings.

What is the lateral plica?

Lateral plica It is longitudinal, thin and is located 1-2 cm lateral to the patella. It is formed as a synovial fold along the lateral wall above the popliteus hiatus, extending inferiorly and inserting into the synovium of the infrapatellar fat pad.

What is synovial plica irritation?

Synovial plica syndrome (SPS) occurs in the knee, when an otherwise normal structure becomes a source of pain due to injury or overuse. Patients may present to general practitioners, physiotherapists, or surgeons with anterior knee pain with or without mechanical symptoms, and the diagnosis can sometimes be difficult.

How long does plica surgery take?

Arthroscopic excision normally takes about between 20 and 40 minutes to perform, and usually you will be able to leave the hospital the same day.

What is plica knee surgery?

Plica resection is an arthroscopic knee surgery that involves removing abnormal synovial tissue. Plica are natural folds in the knee joint synovium that can often times become painful and inflamed.

What are synovial plicae in the knee?

Synovial plicae (knee) Synovial plicae are folds of synovium, thought to represent embryologic remnants. They are common, present in ~90% of arthroscopies 3 . They have been implicated in anterior knee pain and possibly in chondromalacia patellae although their role remains controversial 1,3 .

What are the symptoms of knee plica syndrome?

Typical symptoms of knee plica syndrome include: Knee Pain: Pain from plica syndrome tends to be dull and achy rather than sharp or stabbing. The location of the pain will depend on which plica is inflamed. Pain from plica synovitis is often worse at night time due to the build-up of inflammation

Can you have a medial plica without a knee plica?

Plica syndrome can develop in any of these unless you are one of the 10% of the population have no knee plica at all. The medial plica is the most common place to develop symptomatic knee plica syndrome. It is found on the inner side of the knee joint, running parallel to the kneecap.

How common is infrapatellar plica syndrome and lateral plica?

Whilst the infrapatellar plica is the most prevalent of the four knee plica, it does not tend to get damaged making infrapatellar plica syndrome rare. Infrapatellar plica syndrome is also known as plica synovialis infrapatellaris. The lateral plica is the least common of the four knee plica and is in fact, quite rare.