Surgical options for patellar stabilization in the skeletally immature patient

Patella dislocation is a common injury in children and adolescents and occurs at a rate of 29 to 43 per 100,000 among the 10- to 17-year-olds. The variety and types of patellar instability seen in a pediatric orthopedic population may differ slightly from those seen in an adult clinic. Four main types of pediatric patellar instability exist and include: posttraumatic, syndromic, obligatory,and fixed. Over 100 surgical techniques have been proposed to treat the various types of patellar instability. This review intends to discuss the techniques and outcomes of surgical reconstructions accepted and utilized in the skeletally immature patients.