Patellar dislocation after total knee Arthroplasty: Stabilization technique using medial flap and suture anchors

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Patellar dislocation is a rare but significant complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• Management requires careful assessment of prosthetic alignment, patellofemoral mechanics, and soft tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel surgical stabilization technique for post-TKA patellar dislocation.
• To evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of this technique.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series (2011-2023) of 14 patients with patellar dislocation post-TKA.
• Surgical technique involved a medial retinacular flap with suture anchors and lateral retinacular release.
• Clinical evaluation included pain (VAS), function (Lysholm score), and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• All patients achieved a functional range of motion (≥0°-100°) without instability.
• Significant improvement in Lysholm scores (46.4 to 83.8, p < 0.0001) and reduction in VAS pain scores (6.0 to 1.2, p = 0.0012).
• High patient satisfaction (85.7%) with no reported infections, hematomas, or reoperations.

Conclusions:

• The medial flap technique with suture anchors is effective, reproducible, and has low morbidity.
• This method offers a safe and less invasive treatment for patellar dislocation following TKA in select patients.
• The technique addresses patellar instability without requiring prosthetic revision.