The infrapatellar fat pad, also known as [Hoffa’s fat pad], is a cylindrical piece of fat that is situated under and behind the patella bone within the knee.
The infrapatellar fat pad, also known as [Hoffa’s fat pad], is a cylindrical piece of fat that is situated under and behind the patella bone within the knee.
Clinical significance
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 get very big (hypertrophy) and may become nipped (’impingement’) between the patella and the femoral condyle, causing sharp pain when the leg is extended.
It can become involved in the process of arthrofibrosis and become scarred (fibrotic) and contracted, pulling the patella down into an abnormally low position.