Locked lateral patellar dislocation: a rare case of irreducible patellar dislocation requiring open reduction

Irreducible patellar dislocations are rare injuries, but those that do occur are mainly directed intra-articularly. In this case, a 53-year-old woman sustained a locked lateral patellar dislocation when falling from a chair. A preoperative CT-scan revealed bony avulsions at the insertion of the vastus medialis muscle, the medical retinaculum, and partial disruption of the ligamentum patellae from the apex patellae. Open reduction was necessary and the torn structures were reattached with anchor systems and sutures. Postoperative management included intensive physiotherapy. At 1 year after surgery, the patient was without swelling or pain and had a normal gait, but flexion was restricted to 120 degrees. All postoperative radiographs showed the patella correctly placed in the femoral groove.