Can plica return? plica removed a few years ago. pain has returned. mostly rim of patela, upper inside. knee also almost locks at times. feels like it gets stuck and really hurts to bend or unbend. next step?

Depending on what has already been done, therapy is the initial course of management. Advanced imaging studies such as MRI can look for meniscal tear or cartilage lesions that can cause symptoms that you are describing.

Agree that it may be more than plica. Locking and catching is often a meniscal or cartilage injury. Evaluation and MRI is likely next step.