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Anatomical transverse patella double tunnel reconstruction of medial patellofemoral ligament with a hamstring tendon autograft for recurrent patellar dislocation

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to describe our transverse patella double tunnel technique to reconstruct the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) with a hamstring tendon autograft in patients who suffered recurrent dislocation of the patella, and to evaluate the intermediate-term outcomes of reconstruction treatment.

Materials and methods

Fifty-nine consecutive knees (52 patients) with recurrent dislocation of the patella without marked predisposing anatomic abnormalities and radiographically documented moderate/severe osteochondral lesions were included in the study. Outcomes were assessed with physical and radiographic examination, the Kujala and the modified Cincinnati scores preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6, 12, 36, 60 and 84 months.

Results

There were 19 male and 33 female patients with up to 7.1-year follow-up (mean 5.7 years). The mean age was 24.3 years. A comparison of preoperative scores with those obtained at most recent follow-up revealed a significant improvement for all outcomes measured: range of motion (30 ± 2° vs. 125 ± 5°, P < 0.01), the mean Kujala scores (41.4 vs. 82.6, P < 0.001), the mean modified Cincinnati scores (50.6 vs. 88.7, P < 0.01), the mean congruence angle (12.2° vs. −2.4°, P < 0.01) and the mean tilt angle (11.4° vs. 8.4°, P < 0.05). No recurrent episodes of dislocation or subluxation were postoperatively reported, although there were seven knees with an occasional unstable feeling without redislocation.

Conclusions

MPFL reconstruction with the double-transverse tunnels technique is safe and effective in patients of all ages, without marked predisposing anatomic abnormalities and moderate/severe osteochondral lesions, who suffered recurrent dislocation of the patella.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Cuifang Wang MD for her great assistance with analysis of the data. The patients in this study have given their written consent for the photographic images used.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Orthopaedics, The 2nd Hospital of Lanzhou University, Cuiyingmen Road 82, Lanzhou, 730030, People’s Republic of China

    Hua Han, Yayi Xia, Xiangdong Yun & Meng Wu

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  1. Hua Han
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  2. Yayi Xia
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  3. Xiangdong Yun
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Correspondence to Yayi Xia.

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Han, H., Xia, Y., Yun, X. et al. Anatomical transverse patella double tunnel reconstruction of medial patellofemoral ligament with a hamstring tendon autograft for recurrent patellar dislocation. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 131, 343–351 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-010-1173-5

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