What is Hoffa syndrome?

Introduction Hoffa’s disease (or Hoffa’s fat pad syndrome) is characterised by an impingement between the patellofemoral or femorotibial joints due to edematous changes in the infrapatellar fat pad, causing chronic anterior knee pain.

Can Hoffa’s be cured?

Without treatment, Hoffa’s syndrome won’t usually go away on its own. If it has been present for six weeks or more, you will need some help. Some people give up their hobbies and past-times and it settles within a few months of rest, however it comes back when they return to their sports.

How is Hoffa syndrome treated?

Hoffa’s syndrome is treated by firstly calming down the inflammation and secondly stopping the pinching and squashing. This can be achieved with rest and medicines. Further treatments include taping the knee and strengthening exercises.

How long does fat pad take to heal?

What’s the recovery prognosis for Fat Pad Syndrome/Impingement? * Generally, the prognosis is good. Most patients recover with conservative management in rehabilitation in 8 to 12 weeks. * Steroid injections can be recommended in cases of severe pain.

How do I get rid of fat pad impingement?

Treatment

1. PRICE principles. Rest and avoiding aggravating activities. Apply Ice or cold therapy to reduce pain and inflammation.
2. Electrotherapy. A professional practitioner may use electrotherapy such as ultrasound and TENS.
3. Patella taping. Taping the patella is known to be highly effective in fat pad impingement.

How do I reduce inflammation in my fat pad?

Independent management, especially for acute fat pad symptoms, requires rest and efforts to reduce inflammation:

1. If overuse, stop the provoking activity.
2. Ice regularly – 10-15 minutes, several times per day – to reduce swelling.
3. Use of NSAID’s, if approved by your doctor, to reduce inflammation.

How do I get rid of fat pad below my knee?

Usually, we start with simple treatments. These treatments include exercise therapy to reduce the forces on the fat pads, leg stretching to reduce tightness, and taping or bracing the knee. Other effective treatments include shoe modification or orthotics and soft tissue massage.

What causes Hoffa’s fat pad?

The common causes of Hoffa’s fat pad syndrome include: Chronic knee osteoarthritis. Sudden injury, such as a direct hit to the knee. Tight quadricep muscles.

What causes fat pad impingement?

Infrapatellar fat pad impingement can occur for many reasons, including: Overload of the extensor (quadriceps) mechanism such as when running and when kicking a ball during football. Hyperextension of the knee (over straightening of the knee), e.g. in gymnastics/dance.

How is a diagnosis of Hoffa disease made?

A diagnosis of Hoffa Disease may involve: A physical examination and evaluation of complete medical history by a healthcare provider X-ray of the affected joint MRI scan of the affected joint A tissue biopsy, where the tissue is examined by a pathologist under the microscope, to arrive at a definitive diagnosis

What kind of surgery is used for Hoffa’s disease?

Increase in size of the ossification of Hoffa’s fat pad (arrow) with persistent infiltration of the fat around it (arrowheads). Arthroscopic surgery by the anterolateral approach was decided, with lateral parapatellar arthrotomy, excision of Hoffa’s fat pad and removal of a cartilaginous intracapsular tumour ( Fig. 10 a-c). Figure 10. a-c: case 5.

How to tell if you have Hoffa’s fat pad?

Physical examination showed moderate swelling and restricted motion of the knee. Radiographs of the right knee revealed an increase in density in the infrapatellar fat pad (Hoffa’s fat pad). Sagittal T1-weighted MRI showed hypointensity in the enlarged infrapatellar fat pad ( figure 1 ).

How are corticosteroids used to treat Hoffas disease?

Symptomatic treatment with NSAIDs and physical therapy were ineffective. The patient therefore received injections of corticosteroids in the Hoffa fat pad, which relieved the pain. Figure 6. Case 4. Inflammation of Hoffa’s fat pad in a 36-year-old male horticulturist with chronic anterior knee pain and patellar syndrome.