Patella alta life

I have patella alta with a ratio of 1.7 and a 19-degree alignment angle. I only have symptoms in one knee, mainly a mild stabbing pain when going up or down stairs. That’s how I ended up getting an MRI and finding out about it. One orthopedic surgeon recommended surgery, while another did not and instead gave me a hyaluronic acid injection. What would you do in my situation? Do you think surgery is necessary, or is it possible to manage this conservatively and avoid problems in the future?

I was diagnosed at 33 years old, even though I’ve probably had patella alta my whole life. Before the MRI, I only had mild pain when going up or down stairs and otherwise lived a normal, active life. That’s why I’m struggling to decide whether surgery is really necessary or if conservative treatment is enough.