title: Open or arthroscopic lateral release. Indications, techniques, and rehabilitation.
abstract: Careful patient selection, accurate surgical technique, and careful postoperative rehabilitation are all equally important to success in lateral release surgery. Whether the surgery is performed by open or arthroscopic technique, one must release all layers of the retinaculum, spare the vastus lateralis, extend the release far enough distally, check intraoperative patellar mobility, and obtain absolute hemostasis. Postoperative rehabilitation must stress pain control, early quadriceps contraction, patellar mobility, and knee motion. With attention to these details, successful lateral release surgery is likely in most patients with pathologic lateral patellar tilt and minimal patellofemoral arthrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D010808:Physical Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography