Increased intra-osseous pressure has been postulated
as one of the causes of patello-femoral pain, and therefore,
decompression osseous drilling has been suggested as
a treatment option. With the object of evaluating the efficacy
of osseous decompression, we have performed an experimental
study in sheep. We used twelve sheep from the merino
race divided into two groups, all with an average weight of
60 kilograms and an average age of 4 years. Group A was designed
to prove that patellar decompression produces a decrease
in patellar pressures. Therefore, both patellae were
traumatised in a controlled manner and the left patella was
decompressed, leaving the right patella as the control group.
Group B was designed to observe the effects of patellar decompression
alone, in absence of hypertension through previous
trauma, the left being decompressed and the right being
the control group. In both groups, pressure measurements of
pressure were conducted at the beginning of the study, six
weeks previous and after accomplishment of the decompression.
At 4 months, a histopathological study of both patellae
was conducted. Following the statistical analysis of the pressure
readings at the different time intervals, we conclude that
osseous drilling does not decrease the pressure readings, regardless
of the existence of a state of patellar hypertension.
From the histopathological point of view, drilling does not
slow or revert the histological degenerative changes, and
lastly, the technique to measure the intraosseus pressure can
itself constitute an aggression that can ultimately cause degenerative
changes.

Increased intra-osseous pressure has been postulated
as one of the causes of patello-femoral pain, and therefore,
decompression osseous drilling has been suggested as
a treatment option. With the object of evaluating the efficacy
of osseous decompression, we have performed an experimental
study in sheep. We used twelve sheep from the merino
race divided into two groups, all with an average weight of
60 kilograms and an average age of 4 years. Group A was designed
to prove that patellar decompression produces a decrease
in patellar pressures. Therefore, both patellae were
traumatised in a controlled manner and the left patella was
decompressed, leaving the right patella as the control group.
Group B was designed to observe the effects of patellar decompression
alone, in absence of hypertension through previous
trauma, the left being decompressed and the right being
the control group. In both groups, pressure measurements of
pressure were conducted at the beginning of the study, six
weeks previous and after accomplishment of the decompression.
At 4 months, a histopathological study of both patellae
was conducted. Following the statistical analysis of the pressure
readings at the different time intervals, we conclude that
osseous drilling does not decrease the pressure readings, regardless
of the existence of a state of patellar hypertension.
From the histopathological point of view, drilling does not
slow or revert the histological degenerative changes, and
lastly, the technique to measure the intraosseus pressure can
itself constitute an aggression that can ultimately cause degenerative
changes.