Functional outcome following modified Elmslie-Trillat procedure.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Patellofemoral pain and instability are common orthopedic issues.
• The Elmslie-Trillat procedure is a surgical technique used to address these conditions.
• Evaluating the long-term efficacy and influencing factors of this procedure is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the mid- and long-term functional outcomes of the modified Elmslie-Trillat procedure.
• To identify factors that positively or negatively impact the results of the surgery.
• To determine the procedure's effectiveness in treating patellar instability and anterior knee pain.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 38 patients (44 procedures) undergoing the modified Elmslie-Trillat procedure.
• Patient data included age, diagnosis (patellar instability, anterior knee pain, or both), and chondral status.
• Functional outcomes were evaluated using Cox's criteria, Tegner Activity Scale, and Knee Outcome Survey (Activities of Daily Living Scale) with an average follow-up of 40 months.

Main Results:

• 73% of patients reported satisfactory or very satisfactory functional outcomes.
• Excellent or good results (Cox's criteria) were achieved in 71% of cases.
• Better outcomes were associated with procedures for patellar instability and the absence of grade 3 or 4 chondral changes.

Conclusions:

• The modified Elmslie-Trillat procedure effectively restores patellofemoral stability.
• The procedure yields very good functional outcomes, particularly when performed in patients without significant chondral damage.
• Pre-operative chondral condition is a key factor influencing the success of the Elmslie-Trillat procedure.