The three-in-one proximal and distal soft tissue patellar realignment procedure. Results, and its place in the management of patellofemoral instability

Am J Sports Med. 1999 Sep-Oct;27(5):575-9. doi: 10.1177/03635465990270050501.

Abstract

The three-in-one procedure for extensor mechanism realignment of the knee combines lateral release, vastus medialis obliquus muscle advancement, and transfer of the medial one-third of the patellar tendon to the tibial collateral ligament. We observed 37 patients (42 knees) receiving this treatment at a minimum 25-month follow-up (range, 25 to 85 months; mean, 44). Thirty-two of 42 knees (76%) with recurrent patellar dislocation had good or excellent results after surgery. Redislocation occurred in four knees (9.5%). Skeletal immaturity, chondral damage, and generalized ligament laxity did not seem to affect outcome. Thirty patients (37 knees) were studied 2 years earlier as well (mean follow-up, 29 months). When comparing the results 2 years later, there was a significant deterioration in outcome over time. These results are comparable with the published results for other techniques of patellar stabilization. We describe the place of the three-in-one operation in our surgical protocol for patellofemoral instability, which is based on the principle that a procedure should be selected to address the underlying pathologic features in an individual case rather than always using one operation for all cases.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Arthroscopy
  • Cartilage, Articular / pathology
  • Collateral Ligaments / pathology
  • Collateral Ligaments / surgery
  • Female
  • Femur / pathology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Joint Dislocations / surgery
  • Joint Instability / pathology
  • Joint Instability / surgery*
  • Knee Joint / pathology
  • Knee Joint / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / transplantation
  • Patella / pathology
  • Patella / surgery*
  • Patellar Ligament / transplantation
  • Recurrence
  • Treatment Outcome