chondromalacia /kon′drōməlā″shə/ [Gk, chondros + malakia, softness] , a softening of cartilage. Chondromalacia fetalis is a lethal congenital form of the condition in which a stillborn infant has soft and pliable limbs. Chondromalacia patellae occurs in young adults after knee injury and is characterized by swelling, pain, and degenerative changes, which are revealed on x-ray examination.
