External tibial torsion: an underrecognized cause of recurrent patellar dislocation

Seventeen patients (18 knees) with recurrent patellar dislocation were identified with increased quadriceps angles secondary to excessive isolated external tibial torsion. Traditional realignment procedures attempted in these knees were unsuccessful because of failure to align the biomechanical axis of the extensor mechanism. Derotational osteotomies of the tibia just proximal to the patella tendon insertion were used to reduce the quadriceps angle to within normal limits to improve the biomechanics of the extensor mechanism. Seventeen (94%) knees were available for clinical and subjective followup at an average of 25 months (range, 1-3.2 years). Overall, 13 of the 17 knees were graded as good to excellent (76%). Five of the 17 patients also had well established anterior knee pain in addition to recurrent dislocation and were treated with a combined derotational and Maquet type osteotomy, with 4 patients obtaining a good to excellent result. Knees that subjectively and functionally demonstrated less painful symptoms preoperatively were associated with excellent results. Poor outcomes were associated with knees that were operated on multiple times.