Current Concepts in Diagnostics and Treatment of Patellar Instability: Review

Abstract

Background. Patellar instability is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, predominantly observed in physically active young individuals. It ranks third in the structure of knee joint injuries after anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal injuries.
 The aim of this review to present modern perspectives on the diagnosis, principles, and surgical treatment techniques for patients with patellar instability based on an analysis of the literature.
 Methods. Publications were searched in the PubMed/MedLine and eLIBRARY databases. A total of 112 foreign articles published between 1984 and 2023 and 12 domestic publications from 2011 to 2022 were found. During the analysis, 68 articles were selected, which had full texts or abstracts containing sufficient information on diagnostic methods, commonly used standard and modified surgical correction methods for patellar instability, and treatment protocols considering patient age structure, instability characteristics, and functional demands.
 Results. A qualitatively new stage in the reconstructive and restorative surgery of patellar instability is the in-depth examination of patients to determine the extent of damage to the medial retinaculum and the presence of dysplastic changes in anatomical structures that provide normal biomechanics of the knee extensor apparatus. A strictly individual approach to the selection of surgical treatment methods considering risk factors contributing to the development of chronic patellar instability becomes of particular importance.
 Conclusion. Precise restoration of the medial patellofemoral ligament, supplemented by the correction of identified dysplastic changes in anatomical formations of the knee joint area, allows for better functional outcomes in patients with acute and chronic patellar instability.