Patellofemoral pain can be caused by a variety of factors and the cause needs to be identified and treated. If the cause is not clearly identified, oral anti-inflammatory medication should not be taken as this may mask the condition. Common causes of patellofemoral pain include traumatic patella fracture, dichotomous patella, chondromalacia patellae, patellofemoral tumours and patellofemoral tuberculosis. Patients with general patellofemoral pain can be given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve local pain symptoms after the cause is clearly identified.