Hoffa's disease

Written by Dr Sheila Strover on March 14, 2025

Hoffa's disease is a disorder of the infrapatellar fat pad, a fatty area underneath the tendon of the kneecap.

Hoffa's disease

The Hoffa fat pad is the main fat pad in the knee. It protects the soft-tissue structures deep within the joint, but is itself vulnerable to injury.

Iluustration of the knee joint from the side, to show the sensitive fat pad area.

Inflammation of the fat pad

Hoffa's disease is characterised by pain at the front of the knee, and often an effusion and signs suggestive of ligament instability.

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In-depth presentation - 'An alternative viewpoint on Anterior Knee Pain'

In this in-depth presentation, Dr Thomas Smallman explains how disturbances in the anatomy around the Fat Pad may lead to chronic Anterior Knee Pain.

For lectures etc