Summary

The purpose of this paper is to show that a significant number of patients presenting with patello-femoral pain have excessive lateral pressure (ELP) which can be diagnosed using clinical, radiographic and arthroscopic examinations.

The aetiology of ELP as a cause of patello-femoral pain is discussed. A series of 93 patients are presented, many of whom showed some of the four suggested signs of ELP. The investigations and findings are shown in relation to the varying aetiologies of patello-femoral pain.