Combination of tibial tubercle transfer, medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, trochleoplasty and lateral release for patellofemoral instability provides good middle- to long-term outcomes in adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: There are limited studies that have reported the middle- to long-term outcomes of combined procedures consisting of more than two procedures for patellofemoral instability. The current study aims to investigate and report the middle- to long-term outcomes of a combination procedure of tibial tubercle transfer, medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, trochleoplasty and lateral release for patellofemoral instability in patients aged 18 years and below.

Methods: In the cohort study, all patients aged 18 years old or younger who underwent a combination procedure of tibial tubercle transfer, medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, trochleoplasty and lateral release for recurrent patellofemoral instability were included.

Results: A total of 21 patients were included in the study. All patients had no further patellofemoral dislocation, pain and apprehension following the 4-in-1 surgery (p < 0.01). There was a significant improvement in the Kujala score from 36.1 (SD 12.9) pre-operatively to 93.1 (SD 3.6) post-operatively (p < 0.001). The patients also had a statistically significant improvement in their radiological factors, including the patellar tilt angle (p < 0.001), sulcus angle (p = 0.001), trochlear groove depth (p = 0.041), tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance (p < 0.001) and Caton-Deschamps index (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: A combination procedure of tibial tubercle transfer, medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, trochleoplasty and lateral release leads to good middle- to long-term subjective, functional and radiographic outcomes for patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability and underlying predisposing factors of increased TT-TG distance of more than 20 mm, Dejour B or D trochlear dysplasia and medial patellofemoral ligament rupture.

Level of evidence: IV.

Keywords: Lateral release; Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction; Patellar instability; Patellofemoral instability; Tibial tubercle transfer; Trochleoplasty.