[The modified Elmslie-Trillat procedure for the treatment of recurrent patellar dislocation and instability]

Habitual patella dislocation and instability in the absence of effective conservative treatment requires surgery. Surgical procedures can be divided into bone, soft tissue and mixed methods. In many studies the authors emphasize the good results of Elmslie-Trillat procedure.

In 2005-2008, we operated 20 patients by modified Elmslie-Trillat procedure but 2 patients were excluded from the study because of lack of control after surgery. We modified surgical technique by type of tibial tuberosity osteotomy and reconstruction of soft tissues.

We used a subjective clinical evaluation (evaluation of Q angle, patella traction in the dynamic tests) and the Tegner and Lysholm scale. In the Tegner scale, we obtained an average improvement of 3.4 points (from 0 to 8), and in Lysholm scale average of 46.7 points (from 14 points to 65 points).

Correction of recurrent patellar dislocation and instability by a modified Elmslie-Trillat method is effective and good results are obtained. Only the appropriate selection of surgical procedure depending on the cause of disease provides a permanent cure.