Quadriceps dislocation medial approach for intraarticular and medial structures of the knee

To minimize possible complications such as patellar subluxation, quadriceps atrophy and skin tightness and slough which interfere with successful rehabilitation following knee surgery, the author employed a quadriceps dislocation medial approach for total knee arthroplasty and ligament (medial and both cruciates) surgery. The results of this approach (99 knees) were compared with a medial capsular incision approach (111 knees), a lateral capsular incision approach (114 knees), and Hughston's medial hockey stick incision approach (122 knees). The skin slough, patellar subluxation, and sense of tightness during rehabilitation occurred least with the quadriceps dislocation medial approach (P less than .05). The quadriceps dislocation medial approach was also the most convenient approach of the four.