Evaluation of practice patellofemoral instability collaborative (EPPIC)

The management of patellofemoral instability in the United Kingdom remains poorly standardised. Through the British Association for Surgery of the Knee trainee collaborative, we aimed to identify which procedures (and in which combination) were being used to surgically manage this common condition across the UK.

A retrospective national audit was conducted via a trainee collaborative analysing local trust data between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2019. Data from institutions registered for the EPPIC audit was compiled and analysed for degree of compliance against more recently published national guidelines.

Fifty (n = 50) sites submitted data, totalling 3189 skeletally mature patients. The median age was 26.7 (SD 0.5) years and 63.3 % were female. An isolated lateral release was performed in 8 %, an isolated medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) was performed in 37 % of patients and proximal realignment surgery was conducted in 8 % of patients. Trochleoplasty was required in 11 % of patients, with combined MPFLR and tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) being undertaken in 22 % of patients. Combined MPFLR, TTO and trochleoplasty was undertaken in 3 % of patients.

This audit highlights the national variation in surgical treatment of a common orthopaedic presentation. Despite the lack of evidence, an isolated lateral release is still being performed. There remains a lack of standardisation within the UK in the management of recurrent patellar instability, highlighting the need for national consensus of appropriate surgical interventions.