Patellar articular overlap is better associated with patellar alignment during weight-bearing than traditional...

A consequence of a high riding patella is reduced osseous stability and malalignment of the patella (i.e., lateral patellar tilt and displacement). Although quantification of patellar height is a routine part of the radiographic examination of the patellofemoral joint, it is not clear which measure of patellar height is best associated with patella alignment.

To determine if patellar articular overlap (PAO) is better associated with lateral patellar tilt and lateral patellar displacement compared to traditional measures of patellar height.

Cross-sectional.

Magnetic resonance images were obtained from 50 female participants (21 with patellofemoral pain and 29 healthy controls) under loaded conditions (25-35% bodyweight) at 15-20 degrees of knee flexion. Measurements of lateral patellar tilt and displacement as well as the PAO, Insall-Salvati ratio (ISV), Caton Deschamps-index (CD-index), or the Blacburn Peel-index (BP-index) were obtained from sagittal and axial plane images.

The PAO was found to significantly correlated with lateral patellar tilt (r = -0.77, p < 0.001). In contrast, the ISV, CD-index, or the BP-index were not found to be associated with lateral patellar tilt (r = 0.13, p = 0.34; r = -0.14, p = 0.33; r = -0.08, p = 0.56, respectively). Both the PAO and ISV were found to be significantly correlated with lateral patellar displacement (r = -0.52, p < 0.001; r = 0.43, p = 0.002, respectively). Conversely, the CD-index and BP-index were not found to be associated with lateral patellar displacement (r = 0.03 p = 0.83; r = 0.05 p = 0.74, respectively).

Of the measures of patellar height evaluated, the PAO was found to provide the greatest association with lateral patellar tilt and displacement.