[Arthroscopic treatment of lateral dislocation of the patella.]

Between Jan. 1, 1988 and Dec. 31, 1993 at the Orthopaedic Department of the hospital in Zwettl 12 patients with lateral dislocation of the patella were operated arthroscopically. In two habitual, in 10 relapsing and in one a new dislocation of the patella was involved. The patients were followed up clinically and radiologically, the mean follow-up period being 47 months. Every patient was subjected to complete arthroscopic examination of the knee joint. In the final stage of diagnostic arthroscopy an optical instrument was introduced from a medial retropatellar approach and lateral release was carried out. Subsequently from a 1.5 cm skin incision in the area of the medial facet of the patella a needle with a loop from the instrumentarium for sutures of the meniscus was inserted and from a medial parapatellar approach at both ends a PDS fibre, grade 0, was pulled out and by this thus developed U-shaped stitch medial capsulorrhaphy was achieved. In this way a total of 5-7 stitches were made. Extension of the U-stitches revealed on arthroscopy a satisfactory medialization of the patella. Further treatment involved application of a plaster tube in extension for 4 weeks: The authors discuss in the submitted paper the surgical technique and clinical and radiological results. Key words: dislocation of the patella, arthroscopy, lateral release.