Chondromalacia of the patella.

Where chondromalacia of the patella is resistant to conservative treatment, and where the existence of a Crooks ridge can be inferred from the clinical or X-ray findings, then an operative search for such a ridge, with trimming both of the ridge and of the affected area of the patella, offers a more promising surgical solution than other minor operative procedures, and a less drastic solution than patellectomy.