Hoffa's sign is pain and distress when straightening the bent knee while an examiner presses deeply with the thumbs on either side of the patellar tendon.
Page updated July 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
The thumbs are pressing into the region of the infrapatellar or Hoffa fat pad behind the patellar tendon. The Hoffa fat pad is the largest of several fatty regions in the knee.
Relevance of a positive Hoffa's test
The test is known as the Hoffa's test. It is a test for non-specific irritation or inflammation of the Hoffa fat pad. Because this fat pad is rich in nerve fibres, it is very sensitive to small traumas, which may also cause bleeding and scarring.
Synonyms:
Hoffa sign
Hoffa test
Hoffa's test
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