Insall Proximal Realignment of the Patella for Recurrent Dislocation or Subluxation

Abstract

Proximal realignment of the patella for the treatment of patellar subluxation or dislocation consisting of a lateral release and advancement of the vastus medialis. Recurrent lateral subluxation or dislocation of the patella despite a supervised exercise program. Recurrent subluxation or dislocation of the patella. Congenital dislocation of the patella. Generalized degenerative arthritis of the patellofemoral joint. Excessive valgus deformity of the knee. Moderate to severe muscular atrophy of the vastus medialis muscle (i.e., in neurologic disorders). Lateral parapatellar incision of skin. Detachment of the fibers of the iliotibial tract and the lateral retinaculum from the lateral patella. Medial capsular incision extending from the quadriceps tendon over the patella into the patellar ligament. The quadriceps expansion is shaved from the medial third of the patella preserving the longitudinal continuity. The vastus medialis is advanced and sutured onto the middle and distal aspects of the patella. Out of 21 patients (16 women, five men) who received a proximal realignment procedure during 1989 and 1993, all could be evaluated after 6.3 years (minimum follow-up of 4 years 5 months, maximum of 8 years 3 months). In 13 patients the diagnosis was recurrent dislocationof the patella, in eight patients a true primary traumatic dislocation was noted. A generalized ligamentous laxity was seen in three patients. One patient had a superficial wound infection postoperatively. Two patients had an excellent, 13 patients a good, six patients a fair and no patient a poor result according to the subjective score of Turba et al. Three patients experienced a recurrence of instability (one to three events) after the operation. One of these patients had to be revised for postoperative recurrent dislocation of the patella. The other two patients experienced no more symptoms of instability after muscle strengthening exercises of the vastus medialis muscle.