Infrapatellar fat pad

Infrapatellar fat pad
Infrapatellar fat pad
	Cross section of the human knee
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Corpus adiposum infrapatellare
TA98	A03.6.08.018
TA2	1908
FMA	58772
	Anatomical terminology [ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated July 13, 2025

The infrapatellar fat pad (Hoffa's fat pad) is a cylindrical piece of fat that is situated inferior and posterior to the patella bone within the knee,^[1] intervening between the patellar ligament and synovial fold of the knee joint.^[2]

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 become hypertrophic and may become impinged between the patella and the femoral condyle, causing sharp pain when the leg is extended. This is called infrapatellar fat pad syndrome or Hoffa syndrome.
It can become involved in the process of arthrofibrosis and become scarred (fibrotic) and contracted, pulling the patella down into an abnormally low position.

References

↑ Dragoo, JL; Johnson, C; McConnell, J (1 January 2012). "Evaluation and treatment of disorders of the infrapatellar fat pad". Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.). 42 (1): 51–67. doi:10.2165/11595680-000000000-00000. PMID 22149697.
↑ "infrapatellar fat pad". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-06-12.

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[1] Dragoo, JL; Johnson, C; McConnell, J (1 January 2012). "Evaluation and treatment of disorders of the infrapatellar fat pad". Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.). 42 (1): 51–67. doi:10.2165/11595680-000000000-00000. PMID 22149697.

[2] "infrapatellar fat pad". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-06-12.

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