Dislocated patella associated with below-knee amputation in adolescent patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Prosthetics
• Pediatric orthopedics

Background:

• Patellar dislocation is a concern in adolescent patients using prosthetics.
• One-third of patients in a prosthetic clinic setting experienced patellar dislocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and potential causes of patellar dislocation in adolescent prosthetic users.
• To evaluate radiographic parameters associated with patellar instability in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of four adolescent cases with patellar dislocation.
• Radiographic analysis of femoral-tibial alignment, patellar height, and tibial length.

Main Results:

• All four patients presented with patella alta.
• Radiographs indicated potential issues with alignment and tendon length.

Conclusions:

• Patellar tendon-bearing prostheses may lead to patellar tendon elongation in adolescents.
• This elongation could predispose young patients to patellar instability and dislocation.