Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Knee Surgery

Background:

• Recurrent lateral patellar dislocation is a debilitating condition often linked to medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) injury.
• Associated pathologies include increased tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance and trochlear dysplasia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of isolated MPFL reconstruction for recurrent patellar dislocation.
• To detail the surgical technique using a semitendinosus allograft.

Main Methods:

• Isolated MPFL reconstruction is indicated for recurrent patellar instability without other significant anatomic factors.
• Key criteria include TT-TG distance <20 mm and normal or Dejour type A trochlear morphology.
• The technique involves arthroscopy, allograft preparation, anchor placement, and femoral tunnel drilling with screw fixation.

Main Results:

• MPFL reconstruction yields favorable functional and clinical outcomes with high patient satisfaction.
• Systematic reviews report an 84% return to sport rate.
• Pooled risks of recurrent instability and reoperation are less than 5%.

Conclusions:

• Isolated MPFL reconstruction is a viable option for recurrent patellar instability.
• It should be considered in patients without other major clinical risk factors.
• The procedure demonstrates a low failure rate and high success in restoring knee function.