Focal articular cartilage thinning Male, 29 45 days after partial tear of MCL and MPFL, knee MRI was conducted which has an impression "Focal articular cartilage thinning with increased signal intensity along medial facet of patella, however subchondral bone is normal, suggestive of grade 3 chondromalacia." Is it normal with the injury already sustained? And what does it mean? Also earlier MRI conducted before 45 days had articular cartilage as normal. Is damage in such a short term possible or there may be a possibility of erroneous observation.