Quantitative gait analysis in patients with medial patellar instability following lateral retinacular release

Medial patellar instability is a known possible complication following lateral retinacular release. Insufficient passive structures, muscle imbalance and an over-release of the lateral retinaculum with resection of the vastus lateralis tendon have been implied as a major cause of this problem. We report about the findings of quantitative gait analysis consisting of video recordings, three-dimensional motion analysis, dynamic electromyography and sampling of the ground reaction forces in two patients with medial patellar subluxation. Documentation of the gait functions together with observation of the patellar translation revealed the timing of the occurrence of the instability during level gait: a normal gait pattern with a sufficient quadriceps mechanism and a centred patella was seen during loading (weight acceptance), while the quadriceps muscle was active. Abnormal medial translation of the patella was observed during unloading of the leg while the knee was bending in preparation for the swing phase. This is a phase in the gait cycle when the quadriceps muscle is silent and the patella position is guided by the passive structures only. This finding weakens the argument of muscle imbalance as a cause for the patellar instability and stresses the importance of well balanced passive structures. This explains why a muscular rehabilitation programme is likely to fail as long as the passive structures allow the instability to occur.