Objective: To assess the long-term outcome of anterior knee pain diagnosed in childhood.
Method: Forty-eight patients diagnosed with anterior knee pain in childhood were contacted by postal questionnaire 4-18 yr after initial presentation.
Results: The 22 respondents comprised 16 women and six men, with mean age at follow-up of 22 yr. Twenty of 22 (91%) still had knee pains, eight daily, two weekly and 10 occasionally. In 10 (45%) the pain affected their daily life and in eight (36%) it restricted their physical activities. Twelve (54%) used painkillers. Ten (45%) had developed other diagnoses: four had psoriasis and six arthritis, of whom one had ankylosing spondylitis. Fifteen (68%) had symptoms in other joints at follow-up.
Conclusion: These results suggest that anterior knee pain that occurs in childhood may not be so benign a condition as thought.