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Background and aim:  Chondromalacia patella, which is characterized by softening of the patellar cartilage, is the most common cause of anterior knee pain in young women. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features of patients with chondromalacia patella in Iran.

Methods:  All patients under 40 years, complaining of mechanical knee pain who were referred to Amir A’lam Rheumatology Unit, with positive shrug sign and normal knee X‐rays during the period September 2000 to September 2002, were included in this study. After physical examination and knee radiography, patients with knee arthritis, knee osteoarthritis and knee periarthritis were excluded. Patients with the clinical diagnosis of chondromalacia patella were studied. The demographic data, clinical disease characteristics and disease course were recorded.

Results:  There were 260 patients. They were predominantly female (F : M, 2.6 …